The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-09-28
THE DANCE OF DAVID,
Curious Religious Ceremony Peculiar Z.
the Abyssinians.

the Apyssinians.
The following extracts, SAYS III,
London Graphic, are from the diary
of Captain Rs.P. cobbold, during hi,
journey to join the Abyssinians oper
ating with the British forces agains,
the Mad Mullah: ~ was lucky to
have been in Harrar at the festival q
the Dance Of David Before the Arb
OF the Covenant Of the Lord The
rsight Is probably but little changed
since the first performance 1900 year,
ago, and still bears, In all probability,
an intimate relation to the old Jew.
ish dance. The Christianity Of Abys,
sinia of to-day, in accordance and n
religious observance, is replica OF
ancient Christendom, such as It was IN
the time of Constantine, and In this
sense alone s6a6es historical interest
such as is afforded by no other coun
try at the present moment.
But to get on with the dance, Its
origin dates from the year 1923 A. D.,
or Whereabouts, when the Emperor
constantine called together the first
council of Bishops in Constantinople
:sf that time the Abyssinians had been
recently converted to Christianity,
and, as time went on, sent, as did
other Christian Kingdoms and States
a Bishop or representative of the
church, at the invitation of the EN-.
peror, to the yearly Council of Bishops
at Constantinople, where the ordin.
ances of the church for the ensuing
year were drawn up and agreed upon.
AT the sixth council the Dance of
David Before the Ark Of the Cove.
nant of the Lord was revived, hay.
Ing been copied from the Jews, and
was ordered to be hereafter included
IN the ordinances for each ensuing
year by the representatives of the
Christian Church. 1t seems, however
that at the seventh Council OF
Bishops, the continuation of the dance
OF David was disallowed, and the
order for its performance rescinded.
But it happened that the Bishop repre-.
senting 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
Abyssinian Church, therefore, con-
tinued In ignorance of the order re.
scinding the dance, which has, In con.
sequence, been continued and per-
formed OH the sacred Saturday before
Easter.
"As We neared the courtyard of Ras
house we were greeted
with sounds of singing. Upon enter !
Ing we were surprised to find the place
crowded with people, and then real
zed that We had been asked to wit
ness a religious ceremony. Some of
hose presentswere beautifully attired
nj Indian robes, and wore gold crowns
covered with precious stones. Others
dressed in white, with a deep red
band running down the centre (dis-
inguishing them from Mohamme-
lans,) the headdress consisting Of a
arge White turban. All these people
we're seated on the ground in the YER
nda, and In the centre we discOv-
red the Garasmatch General Of the
Right seated on a chair of state.
after greeting him had time to look
bout at the weird crowd facing us in
semi-circle. At my left, under a
1agnifcently embroidered umbrella,
TODD an aged man, and in his i'm
lediate following were small children,
Gliding some scriptural sign. The old
IAN was the high priest. Beyond
i'm, and completing the semi-clrcle,
TODD other men, all dressed in white,
ome holding wands and others rat.
es, while still others were weighted
own with heavy drums. Thus they
ang the Psalms of David-to the &C.
Of music and dancing.
he. priests, as they continued the
ovement, gradually warmed up 20
le work, and ended in q wild, fam
lstical figure. This over, a repre-.
,ntative was chosen from among the
tests, who delivered long harangue
} the Garasmatch, chanting psalms
I'd extolling the merits of the En-.
.ror, Ras Makennon, and the Garas-
atch himself, finishing by hoping
lat the Garasmatch would not for
It that they had tasted for two
onths, and that he would give them
enty Of food and money.
The General Of the Right thereupon
ked us to call upon him in half an
'ur, and then proceeded to the re- |
ption hall, where the priests re.
ived money and an invitation to {
eakfast on the following morning.
tier this the priests broke up into
lall parties, and visited the various !
lropean high officials in the town, I
ON whom they demanded money.
lch man, on giving them a present,
ceived talisman from the priests, I
Gaming "Good luck and peace be to 9
an"