The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-16
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Turkish
e always an interesting
UedSrto those who are not al
-, accrued in It. Especially so in
- where oriental hospitality ex-
as 50 far as to welcome visitors and
strangers who care TO go. although the
motive may be-nay. usually is-only
Idle curiosity. Whereas the ceremony
OF tying the knot only takes a few
minutes in Christian countries. II lasts
In Cairo from o'clock in the evening
to IL. and Is like enacting a chapter in
the Arabian Nights" We drove to a
remote part OF Cairo, down one broad
avenue into q narrow street. then
across another broad avenue, then by
another. and finally came to a halt at
the entrance OF dark street between
two high walls and completely filled
with men. the uncertain light Of sparse
lamps falling on a sea OF tarbooshes
and the whites OF eyes. With difficulty
we made our way to the gate OF the
large garden in front Of the Pacha's
palace. the entire facade OF which was
brilliantly illuminated. and within
which the ceremony was about 10 take
place.
Making our way on foot through the
crowd that filled the garden. we were
met at the door by the master OF cere-
monies and his private secretary. The
ladies were Immediately takn from us
and conducted to the harem. our men
being shown into room beside an
other reserved for the natives-men
everywhere, but not a woman.
After q while we were invited into
the large dining hall. where we were
rejoined BY the ladies, but only the
ladies' OF our own party. and all sat
down to dinner. l cannot COVE the
menu. The master OF ceremonies said
that he presumed 1t would be agreeable
to eat our steak with our fingers. an
injunction with which we complied,
Soup, really delicious chicken broth.
was served in a large tureen, with a
chicken floating In the middle each Dip
Ing his soup from It, Finally, the
chicken was taken out of the tureen,
torn limb from limb with the fingers
and so served and eaten. The bread
was In long. soft whips, that could be
sung to and fro like molasses candy.
What took place In the harem is best
told by one Of the ladies. She said II
was ushered through long, narrow
stone passage, lighted by torches held
by negroes, and suddenly found myself
in a large room, the harem, brilliantly
lighted by electricity, with number Of
beautiful women with penclled eye
brows and red-stained finger nails, light
clad and unveiled, sitting on rich COW
cred divans.
Their costumes were of costly fat.
RIGS, and they were covered with dia-
monds and pearls. In the middle OF
the room was a bower of roses for the
bride. On all sides rare oriental car
pets and draperies. After waiting an
hour in the harem the bride appeared,
vralkasN = the bower and sat a~"'r In
II. Another long wait and the bride
groom came. He went directly to the
bower, raised the veil of the bride. who
was beautiful. and whom he saw for
the first time. placed magnificent dia-
mond necklace over her head and led
her away. The gayety of the harem
was further increased by the beating of
tomtoms and by the 'danse du ventre.
After this ceremony a procession form
ed In the garden and marched around It
to the sound of music. Then the
bridegroom's best man came out and
made us speech on his behalf, which
was replied TO by one chosen for the
purpose. After this the crowd began
to dispense, and all was over.
while everything was in full swing
the electric lights suddenly went out,
amid the screams of the beauties. Mo-
body could arrange 1t but one cleo
trician, who had to be sent for, On
his arrival after a long time. there were
fresh screams. A man in the harem!
On went the lights, but the wells had
been put up. TO come down again as
soon as the offending male had disap-
peared. Cigarettes and sweetmeats
were handed around afresh and the
harem resumed its wonted charm