Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-03-20
For the HERALD.
AN ARAB WEDDING.

- 40 uSCo Wy tue french as naval an
aviation base.
One hot February day we wer
strolling under the palms CROWN
along the beach. when someone sug
gested that we walk through Ara
town-so We turned in that direction
Arab town is surrounded, as in a
most all Tunisian villages, by hig
wall or Kashah. The narrow. dirt
little streets lead in a perfect MAJ
from the gates. An arm of the Sc
curis into the midst of the town, so tn
heavy, squat little boats, scarlet-saile
and laden with crude pottery can com
directly into the heart of the village
Boats in the process of being painte
are beached in a little square at til
end OF the canal, and fish nets laid t
dry. 1t is quiet little square genei
ally. but that day, as we came neare
we heard the strains of wild, gay, mu
sic, and entering the square found it
scene of the greatest excitement
Every tiny, dark window in the pink
blne and white houses was filled wit
eager heads, and from the flat roofs
groups of Arab women watched through
their long black wells. Dirty, ragged
babies capered happily in the dust
Before.thelopen doorway of little pinl
house stooda row oftwo-wheeled carts
each driven by be-fezzed driver
Two tall old men. wrapped in white
WOODEN robes andlcaps with peaked
hoods, were supplying the music. Ont
thumped a goat skin drum, the othel
played on species of flute. Together
they produced an extraordinary wier6
but fascinating air-the flute wild ant
shrill, and the drum. humping monoto
nously.
Presently, amid cheers, the carts
were loaded with household effects
heaps of feather mattresses, long scar
let holsters, gay Tripoli and Kaironan
rugs, a modern vanished wardrobe
with brass handled drawers, and a
huge gilt MIRROR.
4 little Arab boy, plying our ignor-
ancc. explained that this was we'd
ding procession, that these men were
the grt omsmen. and the household
goods the wedding presents.
A parade now formed. First walk
ed two sturdy Arabs, carrying the
mirror and turning it from side to side
so the whole world could see and ad.
mire Then came six young men carry
ng tin and brass basins covered with
silk wells. Next the laden carts with
three men riding on each load, and
finally, the bridegroom himself on a
poor old motheaten brown horse trying
tsjbest to look like aus:Arabian charger.
After him, the two faithful musicians.
still wailing. Iwish could say tina t
the groom,and.the young men were clad
in holiday dress and had fresh, shining
faces. Candor compels me TO admit
that they wore long, dirty, white shirts
to their knees, and their fezes sur
mounted faces shining with anything
but cleanliness
An Arab bridegroom never sees his
bride till the second day of the cere-
monies. The first day the bride is
escorted to her new home by the
w omen of both families. The
second day the bridegroom arrives
and the two young people are
alone together for the first time. He
lifts her veil and If he is disappointed
he says so, and the wedding stops. If
he approves the wedding goes on.aThe
bride has nothing whatever to do With
the matter.
Having seen the groom start on his
triumphal way, we continued our
walk, only to meet the procession
again as it drew up before the house
where The bride was waiting. In
went the men and the presents, in
went the groomsman and the groom, in
went the two indefatigable musicians
cheers greeted them. There was a
short wait while the .nerve-racking
music, intensified-then all the men
come streaming out againg. They were
much flattered at seeing a group Of
American women watching them, and
tall Arab boy asked us why we didn't
90 in. go in r. we echoed, "bu1
they wouldn't like it !"
.'Oh yes they would" be replied
cheerfully. "There are no men there
now but the bridegroom. only the
women, and they would like to have
you"
The men went on, and we rstooe
staring at the house, from which wo
mems voices, singing drifted out. The
walls were tinted pale blue, with no
window of any sort in their blank
ness, only huge brown door studded
with iron nails an iron ring for
kn0cker.
As we stood staring. the door swung
open a crack. and woman's face
peeped out at us smiling. Seeing w
were alone. she beckoned to US smil
ing. We looked at each other hesitat
ingly-it was marvellous opportunit,
but none OF us liked the thought o
that blank wall and heavy door be
hind Us. Seeing we hesitated, she
flung the door wide and called "zus
zus!" t'scome come - We startes
forward when little Arab boy, in
brown shirt, silver embroidered hurl
ed himself at us with his arms out
stretched. mol No! No Zu |" n
cried. pushing I us away from thu
door. He could not have been more
than three years old, but young as n
was, then spoke the Oriental male
However, to his intense disgust. w
did s'zus' and found ourselves inside
the walls Of an Arab home. We iookes
At the woman who had admitted US
She was quite tall, with long Diaci
hair twisted under . silk handker
1 &1~&.< s-~<.x&l