The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-07-27
IN THE HAREM.
ATurkish Wedding 40 Seen by an
American.

ATurkish Wedding AZ Seen by an
American.
A wedding is always an III erestine
event, even to those who are not d.
rectly concerned in It. Especially 80 in
Egypt, where oriental hospitality ex.
tends so 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, it lasts
in Cairo from o'clock in the evening,
to II, and is like enacting a chapter In,
the ARABIAN Nights" We drove to q
remote part of Cairo, down one broad
avenue into q narrow street. them
across another broad avenue, then by
the Nile up narrow street, then into
another, and finally came to halt at
the entrance Of dark street between
two high walls and completely filled
with men, the uncertain light OF sparse
lamps falling on q sea of tarbooshes
and the whites of eyes. With dihculty
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 to 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 a room beside an
other reserved for the natives-men
everywhere, but not a woman.
After 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. cannot COVE the
menu. The master of ceremonies said
that he presumed it would be agreeable
to eat our steak with our fingers. an
Injunction with which we complied.
Soup, really delicious chicken broth.
was served in large tureen, with a
chicken floating in the middle, each Dip.
ping his spoon in the tureen and eat.
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: IT
was ushered through q long, narrow
stone passage, lighted by torches held
byNnegroes, and suddenly found myself
in a large room. the harem, brilliantly
lighted by electricity. with a number Of
beautiful women with penciled eye
brows and red-stained finger nails, light
clad and unveiled. sitting on rich COW
cred divans.
Their costumes were of costly fab
RIGS, and they were covered with dia-
.lnonds and pearls. In the middle Of
the room was 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.l
walked to the bower and sat down In
it. 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 a 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 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 a 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 it 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 haremr,
On went the lights. but the wells had
been put up. to come down again az
soon as the offending male had disap-
,peared. Cigarettes and sweetmeats
were handed around afresh and the
harem resumed its wonted charm.
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