The record-union., 1893-06-05

a bushel of wheat or a sheep to the BRIDES
parents to feast upon on the occasion of
the wedding. The entertainment on this
occasion lasts from two 10 eight days.
The first day, all the relatives and many
friends meet at the brides house, where
procession is organized for fete to take
place in the garden OF the brides family,
if her father is landed proprietor; if not,
the meeting is held in a public place.
They start, not headed, but followed by
band, generally composed Of a derbuka
drum, gosba flute made out OF reed,
and rebeb IA sort of primitive VIOLIN.
Sometimes the ghaida IA sort of clarionet)
replaces the gosba. A very odd scene
then strikes the attention of the stranger.
The crowd of relatives and friends join in
The cadence by swinging their arms and
knocking upon the ground with their
feet, while the enthusiastic ones reinforce
with their voices the rhythm and tone OF
the music. The appearance of the parad-
erS, tar from enhancing the scene, adds to
the oddly; cleanliness and coquetry not
being the characteristic of the people, one
may see full exhibition OF garments in
condition and color quite varied, from
new TO entirely tattered. While all the
White races there wear CARDS III conform
lty OF color with their complexion, the
faVorite color of the Saharau negro is the
red; the blue, green or yellow are used
for variety. But as no care Is ever taken
OF their garments, they carry upon them
the dust and mud of months or years, and
as the tatters and tears are never mended
either, one may fancy how picturesque
such a procession may be. Strange as it
may appear, III no race OF the Sahara do
the women know how to sew.
A BRIDAL FEAST.
Arrived at their destination, large fire
is lit, around which ali the females dance,
while uttering many you, you' words
Of gleel. During this time the men
further aside make their guns thunder
until the old women, having prepared
| the meal, all of sudden. dance and
firing cease, dozen OF groups are formed,
each around guessa (dish) filled with
couscOussoo, and some other culinary
preparations. Therein all plunge their
fingers at the same time, and, as matter
OF course, without previously washing
their hands, but the food is not less APP
petiZing for it, their stomachs, with no
more delicacy than the fire, devour all
that passes through. So many hands in
the same guessa have speedily cleared it
OIL. This being an occasion i'll which the
guests may indulge incontinentally in
gratifying their appetites no food IS ever
| lett. Alter satlng their stomachs they re-
main in the same position, and each in
turn sets about relating a story, a song
the train is reformed and re-enters the
city, disbanding at the same place where
it was first formed, and each one retires
To his howell, no fete ever taking place
after dusk except during the kamdam.
The fourth day the bride is led in tri-
umph, mounted upon a camel or donkey,
to the groOm's dwelling, where solemn
reception awaits her. Then the young
married couple enter their room and close
themselves in for several days, at least
three. during which a serenade is played
every evening before the door. In the
first morning that they come to light
again the husband goes to his garden, cuts
OFT the head OF palm, and gathers the
sap running from the pruning, which is
an excellent wine. The whole is taken to
his house where he makes the nuptial
distribution, giving the pith to his young
wife, some lagmee palm wlne) to all the
male guests, and one Leaf or part Of Leaf
to all the females as a souvenir. Then
the tenderest part Of the head is cooked
with spices or in the porridge OF the
couscOussoo, and as such, served alto
gether to the guests as final conclusion
Of the wedding. Hilarion Michel, in
Inter-Ocean.