Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-09-02
4 MOORISH FEAST.
AROUND THE TABLE OF THE
il GRAND vIzIER UE MOROCCO.
Unique Decorations-No wines-aIu-
sicians Are Fed-Guests Sprln-'
kled With Rose and Or
snge Water.

unique Dec0raClonS-NO Wlues-ahu
slcians Are Fed-Guests Sprln-'
kled With Rose and Or
snge Water. go
N LONG the dark avenue OF our
II palace in Marakesh appears
~ chamberlain and his attend
ants, and we know that We
have been sent for to attend the great
dinner party the Grand Vizier of Mo-
rocco has been SO busy for the last few
days in preparing for the entertain
ment of Her Maiesty's Minister. Our
horses and mules are ready saddled,
and the body guard OF soldiers drawn
up in line to salute and follow, while
the native servants in all the glory of
their most gaudy clothes stand, Ian
tern in hand, ready to escort us. Then
off through the dark streets, between
the high buttressed walls that crop up
on ell sides in the southern capital of
Morocco; here across a wide open
space, deserted but for the dogs or
some late wayfarer, lantern in hand,
and here again through q labyrinth of
tortuous alleyways, from which the
high white houses, windowless and
ghostlike, rise on either hand.
At the doorway of the Vizier's
house we dismount, and, passing
kthrough empty halls and wide pas.
saees, severe and austere in their
grim whiteness, we are ushered into
one of those small and beautiful gar
dens which the Moors love so much
and know so well how to render at
tractive. Between the dark Cypress
trees and the trellis work that line.the
paths the fitful light of moon and
many lanterns falls, while the shadowy
figures of the members of the Sultan's
court pass and repass. A da:k man,
with small beard and noustache,
swathed in the finest OF white wool and
silk garments, greets us. It is the
Grand Vizier. A minute later and we
are ensconced in the reception room,
leading from the garden by an arcade
OF horseshoe arches. In domed re-
cess in the garden, lit with fantastic
lanterns, are the musicians, their
voices and music at this distance ris.
ing and falling in weird, harmonious
cadence, an effect that is quickly de-
stroyed on their approaching nearer,
for the Moors cannot discriminate be-
tween singing and shouting, or be.
tween.sound and noise. The garden
before us is threaded with raised and
tiled paths, in which here and there,
where the meetings of two paths allow
of space, bubble and splash little foun.
teins in marble basins. One seems
miles away from the filth and noise of
the great city without, and in the very
heart of which one actually is.
Dinner is announced, and, led by
Yizier, we pass down the length of the
garden, among courtiers, soldiers and
slaves, and find ourselves entering a
second and even more gorgeous apart
ment than that we had just left. Un-
der the arcade OF arches that gives
entrance to this room stood our din.
ner, ninety-two huge covered dishes
of earthenware filled with oil the del
icacies that native cooks know 30 we'll
how to prepare. Within stands the
dining table, loaded with fruit and
flowers and sweetmeats, with candel-
abra and dessert dishes, and set in
European fashion. as strange On an
omaly in so Oriental scene as the
furniture which lies scattered about
the room. At either extremity Of the
large apartment stand four-posted
Of French Empire" design,
in ebony and walnut respectively.
while mirrors of every shape. form
and design, from handsome construc.
tions in "buhl" to the most fashy of
modern gilt hideosities. Clocks of
many shapes and designs tick against
the walls, while the floors OF marble
and tiles are srrewn with antique car.
pets of the country and modern Brus-
sells of suicidal hues; the candelabra
on the table of inferior pewter, the
forks and spoons of handsome silver; !;
everywhere the same strange mixture
of Orientalism and civilization, OF
wealth and shoddiness. Nor was the
company less diverse, for next to her
Majesty's Minister in evening dress
and decorations sat o tall figure
swathed in white wool and silk; while
behind young officer in the mess kit
of the Grenadiers stood group Of
Moorish servants in scarlet and gold,
black slaves and soldiers in their GRIM
son 'fezzes." The perplexity Of the
English butler who was shown close
upon a hundred dishes and told to
| serve dinner was feature in the en-
tertainment. but fortunately there is
no routine in Moorish feasts, and one
eats promiscuously of spiced meats.
young pigeons richly stuffed, fowls
roasted with lemon peel, and "koo-
skoosoo." the National dish, to men
tion but very few of the many del.
icacies prepared. No wines ore ever
given at these entertainments, for the
Moors are by religion, and generally
by practice, stanch teetotallers, nor
would those who do imbibe in secret
venture to do SO at public feast, in
the presence alike of Europeans and
their own compatriots.
We did not do justice, it must be
confessed, to even small proportion
of the repast prepared, excellent
though the dishes were; nor is one ex.
pected to do SO, for the number OF
cooked dishes is sign of honor and
hospitality, and zone tastes rarely OF
those which ones servants think most
according to their masters gout, the
rest being carried away to the differ
ent apartments in which the Vizier is
entertaining his fellow members OF