Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-23
Ito be continued
AN ARAB WEDDING
One That Was Witnessed by'a European in
the Desert Of Sahara.

One That Was Witnessed by d European in
the Desert Of Sahara.
had the good fortune to see a grana
Arab wedding, says writer n Harper's
Magazine. The osid had planned the
marriage of his daughter SD sheik-
frankly one of the ugliest men I have
ever seen who was already the possess
OF OF four wives. From what whispers
could be heard from the mysterious re-
cesses of the harem, the bride was love
Ig girl of Il, her repugnapce having de-
layed the marriage some ten days. After
the ceremony, while tbs bride was being
conveyed TO the bridegroOm's home in a
sort of hOwdah of brocaded silk, her
cries and lamentations could plainly be
heard above the din Of the pistols and
matchiOcks and the voices of some thirty
maidens who, surrounding the camel that
bore her, gave utteranca to strange
noise made by tapping the mouth with
the open hand while crying out, the eff
fest produced being come what like the
cry OF an Indian. These maidens Lad
on this o. casiOn yashmaks made mostly
Of light green gauza studded with golden
stars, which partly concealed the faces or
some Of the l0vcliest women and girls.
Their eyes, indeed, eqCaled those of the
gazelie, but seeme d to have m0urnful
vacancy, aad TO be anything but windows
OF the soul. Arab etiquette prevented
me- from advancing too near. What with
the embroidery. 1.-THE gold, and the colored
garments il made q whole OF a bizarre
OF most striking effect. On went the
procession TO make tour OF the desert,
surrounded by this frenzied band Of rel
atives, while the marriage feast-klds
and sheep roasted whole-wss being cook
ed. On their return preparations were
~ 4de for what / had so much ionged to
see, the celebrated "fantaisie Arabe."
Imagine about forty Arabs, saperbly
mounted and armed, casting aside the
burnoose OF evsry day TO appear IN their
holiday jackets Of every hue and texture
Imaginable; horse housings of velvet
and gold, with tGssels and embroidery
everywhere; the heels of their long red
leather boots decked with the Arab spur
five inches long, which IS really only an
ornament; flashing arms, long gun, two
long carved daggers, brace of pistols
attached to g cord round the neck, so that
they can be flung over the shoulder after
being discharged, along sword, oamascen-
ed with gold, fastened to the saddle bow
in such guise they career headlong at q
great burst Of speed, the rein held loose
! IL by the little finger, US ng gun, pistols,
and sword in turn in mimic warfare.
! Cries of defiance arise from the men AID
| loud appreciation from the women, as
some skillful cavalier performs some
more daring feat than any of MS COM
rades, till finally, amid Whlrlwind of
dust, horses and men, half mad with ex-
cit .ment, slow by degrees from the sheer
violence of their exertions.
| At the feast I was placed beside the
oaid, who looked approv1ngly at me as
| squatted down cross legged, and followed
! the others IN tearing. strip by strip, the
meat from the steaming animal. As
bonnie bouche, my host cranmed his
hand down the ANIMALS throat, tearing
out the tongue and sharing it with
me. After sundry dishes. high-
| ly spiced with pimento and pepper,
there came the CONSCIOUS, the national
dish that is eaten every day. It is taken
! by the hand and thrown into the mouth.
We finished with dates, sweetmeats, and
cuffee of 2 delicious favor. Their man
ner of preparing the beverage Il, after
roasting the berry and beating Is into
powder, to put it into tin pot with
water enough for one; after being made
TO boil, it is served, grounds and all; but
the arena is perfection.
Since the beginning of the present
year 4, 123 members Of the Grand Army
Of the Re public have died.
Z. 81. Steel, the Minneapolis clothing