Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 109, July 6, 1895Various
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 109, July 6, 1895
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
[_She fans herself violently with her programme, and_ 'ENERY
_is reduced to explain that his suggestion was not seriously
intended._
IN THE STANDS--DURING THE NATIVE DISPLAY.
_Mrs. Keyveve_ (_to her brother_, Mr. FREDERICK FRIVELL, _as the
Somalis are performing a marriage dance_). It seems a curious kind of
wedding, doesn't it, FRED? Can you make out which are the bride and
bridegroom?
_Mr. Frivell._ Fancy that's the bride in red cotton, with her hair
down, prancing with maidenly gaiety between the first bridesmaid and
the best man, while the bridegroom, becomingly draped in a bath-towel,
may be observed capering up and down clapping hands with the
officiating clergy. A simple but impressive ceremony.
_Mrs. Keyveve._ Very. I wonder if they get any wedding presents.
_Mr. Frivell._ Rather. The sportsman in the rusty wig gave 'em
BROWNING'S poems and an afternoon tea-kettle, and the Johnny with
the feathers in his wool presented her with a dressing-bag. The
photo-frames, card-cases and carriage-clocks are all laid out in one
of the huts, according to the savage custom of the country, guarded
by a detective in the disguise of a wedding guest, armed with poisoned
spears.
_Mrs. Keyveve._ How silly you are! Look, they're rolling along a
great wicker-basket. What _can_ they have in it--the bride's luggage,
perhaps?... Why, it's an enormous snake! See, it's crawling out!
_Mr. Frivell._ It's the bride's going-away dress, that's all. Someone
ought to tell her that boas aren't worn this season, though.
_'Arriet_ (_in the Sixpenny Promenade, to_ 'ARRY). What are they
miking all that row about--are they supposed to be _torking_, or what?
_'Arry_ (_vaguely_). I expect they're declarin' war--against
_somebody_ or other.
_'Arriet_ (_reflectively_). I wonder if that little bit of 'air
stickin' up grows out of that feller's 'ed like that. Look at all them
little nippers runnin' about--(_with an air of discovery_)--I expect
they _belong_ to some of 'em.
[_The Somalis perform a war-dance, which seems to consist in
squatting down opposite one another in a double row, chanting
"Razza-Ho! Ho-hoâ-ho-ho!" or words to that effect, while two
of the party dodge between the ranks and cluck like poultry,
after which all rise, knock their wooden shields together
until they lose further interest in the affair, and stroll
away satiated._
_Mrs. Keyveve._ Is that really their war-dance? It's very much the
same as the _marriage_ dance, isn't it?
_Mr. Frivell_ (_a contented bachelor_). Yes; subtle beggars, these
Somalis.
_'Arry_ (_during the Sham Fight_). 'Ark at one on 'em 'owlin'
"Oo-oo-oo!" he's took bad _agen_! Good ole Mop 'Ed got one in _that_
time! "Olla-olla-olla!"--he's sayin' the other bloke 'it 'im on the
jor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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