| Show an arab wedding in the sahara desert I 1 had the good fortune to seo a grand arab wedding the caid had planned the marriage of his daughter to a sheik franley one of the ugliest men I 1 have eyer seen who was al ready the possessor of four wives from what whispers could be heard from the mysterious recesses of the harem the bride was a lovely girl of fourteen her repugnance having delayed the marriage some ten daysi after the ceremony while the ande was being conveyed to the bride rooms homo in a sort of howdah of 6 brocaded sil feher cries and lamentations be heard above aba and matchlocks match locks and I 1 the voices of some thirty maidens i who surrounding the camel that barq her gave utterance to a strange noise made by tapping the mouth with tha open hand while crying out the effect produced jegg some magdena had on this oc cassion yash make made mostly of light green gauze studded with golden stars which partly concealed the faces of some of the loveliest women and girls their eyes indeed equalled equal led those of the gazelle but seemed to have a mournful vacancy and to be any thing but windows 0 the soul arab etiquette prevented me from advancing too near what with the embroidery tho gold and the colored garments it made up a whole of a bizarre but moat striking effect on went the procession to make a tour on the desert surrounded by this frenzied band of relatives while the marriage feast kids and sheep roasted whole was being cooked on their return preparations made for chati had so much longer to see the celebrated fantaisie fan taisie arabe about forty arabs superbly mounted and armed casting aside the burnoose of every day to appear in their holiday jackets of every hue and texture imaginable agi horse housings of velvet and gold with bassols and embroidery everywhere the heels of their long red leather boots decked with the arab spur five inches long which is really only an ornament flashing arms a long gun two long curved daggers a brace of pistols attached to a cord round afie neck so that they can be flung over the shoulder after being discharged a long sword damascene dam ascend with gold fastened to the saddle bow in such guise they career headlong at a great burst of speed the rein held loosely by the little finger using gun pistols and sword in turn in mimic warfare cries of defiance arise from the men and loud approbation from the women as some skilful cavalier performs some more daring feat than any of his comrades till finally amid a whirlwind of dust horses and men half mad with excitement stop by degrees from the sheer violence of their exertions at tho feast I 1 was placed beside the caid who looked approvingly at me asi squatted down cross legged and followed the others in tearing strip by strip the moat from the steaming animal As a bontie touche my host crammed his hand down the animals throat tearing out the tongue and sharing it with me after sundry dishes highly spiced with pimento and pepper there came the couscous the great national dish that is eaten every day it is taken by the hand and thrown into the mouth we finished with dates sweetmeats sweet meats and coffee of a delicious flavor their manner of preparing the beverage is after roasting the berry and beating it into a powder to put it into a tin pot with water enough for one after being made to boil it is served grounds and all but the aroma is perfection E P in harpers magazine for juno |
