A narrative of travels in northern Africa in the years 1818, 19, and 20; accompanied by geographical notices of Soudan and of the course of the NigerLyon, G. F. (George Francis)
History
A narrative of travels in northern Africa in the years 1818, 19, and 20; accompanied by geographical notices of Soudan and of the course of the Niger
Lyon, G. F. (George Francis)
Fezzan (Libya) -- Description and travel; Tripolitania -- Description and travel
There is nothing improper or immodest in this exhibition; but
on the contrary, from its slowness and the regularity of its
movements, it is extremely pleasing and elegant. Another dance
is performed by women only, who form a circle round the drummers,
and occasionally sing a lively chorus; one advances, and with her
arms extended, foots it to and from the drummers, two or three
times, until a change of tune, when she runs quickly backwards,
and falls flat down. The women behind are ready to receive her,
and by a jerk of their arms, throw her again upright; on which she
once more turns round, and resumes her place, leaving the one next
in succession to her to go through the same movements, all of which
are performed in the most just time; the whole party occasionally
enlivening the music, by their shrill and extraordinary cry of
joy. The dancing in the houses is not quite so pleasing as that
in public, and as for decency it is quite out of the question;
no man or woman standing up, unless to throw themselves into a
variety of indelicate postures. The male slaves have many dances,
in which great activity and exertion are requisite. One consists
in dancing in a circle, each man armed with a stick; they all move,
first half and then quite round, striking, as they turn, the sticks
of those on each side of them, and then jumping off the ground as
high as they can. Another is performed by boys, and they have no
drum, but keep chorus, by singing in a particular manner, La illa il
’Alla لاالله الاالله. “There is no God but God.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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