The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-25
THE DANCE OF DAVID.
Curious Religious Ceremony Peculiar
 to the Abyssinians.
London Graphic.

London Graphic.
 The following extracts are from the diary of Captain R. P. CobboId. dur ing his journey to join the Abyssinians operating with the British forces against the Mad Mullah: II was lucky to have been in Harrar at the festival of the Dance of David Before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord.' The sight is probably but little changed since the first performance 1900 years ago, and still bears, in all probability, an intimate relation to the old Jewish dance. The Christianity of Abyssinia of today, in ordinance and in religious observace, Is a replica of ancient Chris tendcm, such as it was in the time of Constantine, and in this sense a1oAe offers historical interest such as is af- forded by no other country at the pre- sent moment.
 But to get on with the dance. It's origin dates, from the year 32S A. D., or thereabouts, when the Emperor Constantine called together the first council of bishops in Constantinople. At that time the Abyssinians had been recently converted to Christianity, and, as time went on, sent, as did other Christian kingdoms and states, bishop or representative of the church at the invitation of the emperor, to the yearly council of bishops at Con- stantinople, where the ordinances of the church for the ensuing year were drawn up and agreed upon. At the sixth council the Dance of David Be- fore the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was revived, having been copied from the Jews. and was ordered to be hereafter included In the ordinances for the ranrn9RntQ- tives of the Christian Church. It seems, however, that at the seventh council of bishops the continuation of the dance of David was disallowed, and the order for it's performance rescind- ed. But it happened that the bishop representing Abyssinia was unable to be present either at this or the next council, the country, in all probability, being in a state of war, and unable to consider spiritual matters. The Abys- sinian church, therefore, continued in ignorance of the order resembling the dance. which has. in consequence, been continued ad performed on the sacred Saturday before Easter.
 AS we neared the courtyard of Ras Makennon's house We were greeted with sounds of singing. Upon entering we were surprised to find the place CTON Ocu NIiu PCOplCs anu ICollICh that we had been asked to witness a religious ceremony. Some of those present were beautifully attired in Indian robes. and wore gold crowns covered with precious stones. Others dressed in white, with deep red band running down the center distinguish ing them from Mohammedans), the headdress consisting of a large white turban. All these people were seated on the ground in the Veranda, and in the center we discovered the garas- match general of the right seated on a chair of state. After greeting him ] had time to look about at the weird crowd facing us in semi-circle. At my left. under a magnificently em- hroidered umbrella. stood an aged man, and in his immediate following were small children. holding some scriptural sign. The old man was the high priest. Beyond him. and completing the semi circle. stood other men. all dressed in white. some holding wands and others rattles. while still others were weighed down with heavX drums. Thus they sang the psalms of David-tO the ac- compartment of music and dancing. The priests .as they continued the movement, gradually warmed up to the work. and ended in a wild. fantastical figure. This over. a representative was chosen from among the priests. who delivered a long harangue to the garasmatch. chanting psalms and ex- tolling the merits of the emperor, Ras Makennon, and that the garasmatch would not forget that they had lasted for two months. and that he would give them plenty of food and money.
 "The general of the right thereupon asked us to call upon him in half an hour. and then proceeded to the recep- tion hall. where the priests received money and an invitation to breakfast on the following morning. After this