New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-15
ABlsHIBAZOUK FESTIVAL.

From The London Globe
signor Norsa. writing from Nassowah, thus describes
a festival given at the Bashl- Bazouks camp, com
manded by Colonel Bcgn on the occasion OF King
gm6ers s bh , rnS inc e1p near saS coli"
ncl Bcgns tent stands on a hill which OverloOks
the whole camp, and the Bash,Hazonks KNOW Iha'
having studied his men, knows how TO treat mem me
festival began at 3 pm Divided into groups, the
Bashi- BazsuSs began To Sing species OF psalm ar
companicd by the roll OF drums. beating time with
their feet and clappng their hands Little by little
and legs until, Intoxicated by the increasing nolsc
they break ont into sort OF Internal dance jumping
uniting and separating, coming into collision with each
other and Iebonnding as II they we're India rubber
dolls Aferward they had sham fight. separated
into Two sqnadons they occupied the u MINI aS OF
advanced on similar group from their opponents
They jump from one stone TO another win snrprisnS
Tapidy and precision, and with swords ana nplited
anCes. thcy rcct II col fiscd ana struggling group
II wonder that none were really wounded.
Some fall il dead. and are carried OF by their com
panons After this sham fight some Arabs gave an
entertainment which showed their dex'crlty. Armed
with shield and lance. they assumed picturesque post
urcs. asSaung and flying from each other and FIRE.
quently initiating the gallops and jumps Of body Of
horse Then tho turn Of the women Twenty
peDlnms hiding their admirable forms. The usual
the others one by orc advanced in time TO the always
shaving their fect Nth silver anklets. their arms
necklaces and armlcts. his strange and original
dance Of which the natives are very fonl and which
always excitcs hem greatly reminds Of the dance
I'm the scene Of the SucZ Canal I'm Excelsior" Tho
sun meanwhile set, and night set I'm with the usual
rapidtv Then the camp was Illuminated by myriads
Of small cOOred lamps with beautiful effect From
the top 81 the hill on which Is the old Egyptian fort
garrlsOncd by Bashi-Hazouks. | admired the general
illumination of the surrounding camps The tops Of
The mountains crowned with bOnnIes. and the
thousand designs Of chains. stars, rings AMI arches In
cu0rc1 lamps along the valleys showed siriltingly
against the darkness OF the night. From The officers
mess camc laughter cries, applause songs and hearty
cheers. After dinner many officers from tho other
camps visit Colonel Begnl and the sprctacles
given before repeated with more enthusiasm and
spirit than before. 4 band OF italian soldiers, ac-
cOmpanicd by other Bashl- BazOuks, arrived az the
camp, beating wooden sticks on old empty petroleum
tins. and carrying flaming torches. They struck mp a
Wild dance, the regular soldiers fraern2ng with the
Bashi- TazOuks, and finished with disvOotO.
Then the beautiful black women rcapprareh more
slightly clothed and more gay than during the day.
and more sang and danced. and who knows how
long the festival would have lasted had not the trumpet
given the signal for silence which was mmcd atcly
punctualy 0heyed Taking my leave Of the colonel.
and issuing from the tent. the camp had returned to
silence could be complete and solemn. A few lamps
sim burned, squirting OF light I'm the middle Of
the thick smoke Of the eXtngushcd candies and wicks
The next morning the revellle Wa sounded at the
usual hour, and witnessed the departure OF some
psnles Of Bashi-RazOUks. who marched of at the
double. Thew looked as II they had passed the pre-
viOus day and night I'm perfect quieness and Mercury
himself could not have got over the ground more
rapidly.