136 TRAVELS IN THE 
beat to announce a wedding, which was held at one of the 
neighbouring tents. A great number of people of both sexes 
assembled, but without that mirth and hilarity which take 
place at a Negro wedding : here was neither singing, nor 
dancing ; nor any other amusement that I could perceive. A 
woman was beating the drum, and the other women joining at 
times like a chorus, by setting up a shrill scream ; and at the 
same time, moving their tongues from one side of the mouth to 
the other, with great celerity. I was soon tired, and had returned 
into my hut, where I was sitting -almost asleep, when an old 
woman entered, with a wooden bowl in her hand, and signified 
that she had brought me a present from the bride. Before I could 
recover from the surprise which this message created, the woman 
discharged the contents of the bowl full in my face. Finding that 
it was the same sort of holy water, with which, among the Hot- 
tentots, a priest is said to sprinkle a new married couple, I be- 
gan to suspect that the old lady was actuated by mischief, or 
malice ; but she gave me seriously to understand, that it was a 
nuptial benediction from the bride's own person ; and which, on 
such occasions, is always received by the young unmarried 
Moors as a mark of distinguished favour. This being the case, 
I wiped my face, and sent my acknowledgments to the lady. 
The wedding drum continued to beat, and the women to sing, 
or rather whistle, all night. About nine in the morning, the 
bride was brought in state from her mother's tent, attended by 
a number of women, who carried her tent, (a present from the 
husband) some bearing up the poles, others holding by the 
strings ; and in this manner they marched, whistling as for- 
