DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4393#0060
42 A THOUSAND MILES UP TIIE NILE.
close of each verse they yawned and howled again; while the
singer, carried away by his emotions, broke out every now
and then into a repetition of the same amazing and utterly
indescribable vocal wriggle with which he had begun. "When-
ever he did this, the rest held their breath in respectful
admiration and uttered an approving "Ah!'—which is
here the customary expression of applause.
We thought their mvtsic horrible that first night, I
remember; though we ended, as I believe most travelers
do, by liking it. We, however, paid them the compliment
of going upon deck and listening to their performance.
As a night-scene, nothing could be more picturesque than
this group of turbaned Arabs sitting in a circle, cross-
legged, with a lantern in their midst. The singer quavered;
the musicians thrummed; the rest softly clapped their
hands to time and waited their turn to chime in with the
chorus. Meanwhile the lantern lit up their swarthy faces
and their glittering teeth. The great mast towered up
into the darkness. The river gleamed below. The stars
shone overhead. We felt we were indeed strangers in a
strange land.
close of each verse they yawned and howled again; while the
singer, carried away by his emotions, broke out every now
and then into a repetition of the same amazing and utterly
indescribable vocal wriggle with which he had begun. "When-
ever he did this, the rest held their breath in respectful
admiration and uttered an approving "Ah!'—which is
here the customary expression of applause.
We thought their mvtsic horrible that first night, I
remember; though we ended, as I believe most travelers
do, by liking it. We, however, paid them the compliment
of going upon deck and listening to their performance.
As a night-scene, nothing could be more picturesque than
this group of turbaned Arabs sitting in a circle, cross-
legged, with a lantern in their midst. The singer quavered;
the musicians thrummed; the rest softly clapped their
hands to time and waited their turn to chime in with the
chorus. Meanwhile the lantern lit up their swarthy faces
and their glittering teeth. The great mast towered up
into the darkness. The river gleamed below. The stars
shone overhead. We felt we were indeed strangers in a
strange land.