Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-02
AN ARAB WEDDING.
One That Was Witnessed by N Europ-
can I'm the Desert OF Sahara.


can in the Desert OF Sahara.
Ihad the good fortune to see grall Arab
wedding, says q writer In Harptrs MagGztte.
The caid had planned the marriage Of his
daughter to a shek-frankly one OF the
ugllest men have ever seen-wbo WAS al
ready the possessor of four wives From
what whispers could be heard FROM the mys-
terIous recesses of the harem, the bride was
lovely girl of IA, her repugnsncc having
delayed the marriage some ten days. After
the ceremony, while the bride was being con
vcyed TO the brldegroom's home in a sort Of
howdah Of brocaded silk, her cries and
ame tations could plainly be heard above
The din OF the pistols and matchlocks ana the
voices of some thirty maidens, who sur.
rounding the camel that bore her, gave utter
ince to a strange noise made by tapping the
mouth with the open hand while scrying out,
the effect produced being somewhat Ike The
cry of an Indian. These maidens had on this
occasion yasAmaks made mostly OF light
green gauze studded with golden stars,
which partly concealed the faces OF some Of
the loveliest women and girls. Their eyes,
Indeed, equaled those OF the gazele, but
seemed to have a mournful vacancy, aud to
be anything but windows OF the soul Arab
etiquet prevented me from advancing 100
near. What with the embroidery, the gold,
aud the colored garments II made up whole
OF q bizarre but most striking effect Ca
went the procession to make a tour on the
desert, surrounded by this freuzled band OF
relatives, while the marriage feast-kids and
sheep roasted whoe-was being cooked. On
their return preparations were made for what
l had so much longed TO see, the celebrated
'Jdntdisie Arabe." Imagine about forty
Arabs. superbly mounted aud armed, casting
aside the burnoose OF every day TO appear
In their holiday jackets Of every hue and
and gold with tassels and embroidery every
where; the heels OF their long red leather
boots decked with the Arab spur Eve Inches
long, which Is really an ornament; flashing
arms, long gun, two long carved dsggers,
a brace OF pistols attached to a cord round
the neck, so that they can be flung over the
shoulder after being discharged, a long
sword, damsscened with gold, fastened to the
saddle bow-in such guise they career head
long ut great burst of speed, the rein held
loosely by the little finger using gun, pistols,
and sword In turn In mimic warfare. Cries
OF defiance arise from the men and LOUD APP
probation from the women, as some skllfu
cavalier performs some more dariug feat than
any OF his comrades, till finally. amid a whlrl
wind Of dust horses aud men, half mad with
excitement stop By degrees from the sheer
violence of their eXertions.
AT the feast was placed beside the caid.
who looked approvingIy at me as / squatted
down crosslegged, and followed the Others
in tearing, strip by strip the meat from the
steaming animal As bonnie bouche, my
host cramined his hand down the animals
throat, tearing out the tongue and sharing
IL with me. After sundry Dishes highly
spiced with pmento and pepper, there came
the CONSCIOUS, the great national dish that is
eaten every day. Ii IL taken by the hand
and thrown into the mouth. We finished
with dates, sweetmeats, and coffee Of de-
licious flavor. Their manner OF preparing
the beverage is, after roasting the berry and
beating 1t into powder, to put Is into tin
pot with water enough for one; after being
made to boil, It Ia served, grounds and all;
but the aroma is perfection.