Berber’s Belly Dance.

Berber’s Belly Dance. S/s "Białystok" was laying up since a couple days in Casablanca. It was 1969 and I was 2nd officer at that time. Once free of duty I decided to recognise the night life of this beautiful city. The guide, a small Arab conducted me to a night club, where Berber’s girls were dancing “Belly Dance”. We took a seat at a modest corner and had a beer, just because there were only 5 dollars in my pocket. On the floor were dancing beautiful, longhaired girls. They were dressed stingy, on bust small golden blocks, on hip wide golden belts, and of leg covered delicate muslin. Round parquet floor sat excited Arabs. Suddenly among them I saw the American keeping in hand bunch of dollars. He was sitting close to an Arabian white dressed "Sheikh" with bunch of drachmas in hands. They were in competition... "Sheikh” gone out onto parquet floor and put - notes for belt of dancer, and American stuck dollars to girl’s forehead. Girls sold themselves by auction this way, and they were dancing just like in trance. At the moment I heard Arab shouting at the American: - Where are you from? The answer was amazing: - From Warsaw. It shocked me. From Warsaw? From where does he have so much money? I got up and approached to him, patting from back into arm and said: -Cześć Koleś ! ( Hi man !) His answer surprised me once more: -“Cześć Koleś trzymaj się ramy, bo spadamy” (Hi man , hold on frames, because we are falling down). These words could know only Warsaw citizen... We threw ourselves into arms and I asked him: - What do you do “Old Man” here? - I am drinking. My wife owns so many factories, that I cannot lose it... - Never mind. I can help you. I sat down between the "Sheikh" and the American and we commenced to reduce fortune of his wife. In track of conversation it came out, that American was Polish origins and he has not seen country from 30 years.... He was really glad to meet a countryman. Beautiful Berber’s girl was still dancing in front of us. For a while I felt myself horrible poor between these rich men. Suddenly a great idea came to my mind, I drew out five zloty coin, I entered how they onto parquet floor and I put her for golden block on bust of dancer. Surprised our aluminium 5 “golden” with fisherman drew out and she took them onto tooth, in order to affirm, whether it was silver one. She began sweat around and asks how much this is dollars. Nobody could answer her this question. Finally she came to me... -Listen- I said – if you exchange tomorrow you will exchange this coin in bank, you will get 50 dollars... instead. Of course this coin was worth only few cents. At once she began to dance only for me, I gave her 50 dollars per dance, when the rest only 10 dollars … I did not have five-zloty coins more, so I started to strike intensely, what here " turn inside out ". They sold themselves by auction Sheikh with American further. I thought, how to bit them ...then I reminded myself about Polish Steamship Company marks into valve, which I had in pocket. I got up and I honoured my dancer putting the mark between her breasts. It made her astonished again and she was asking everybody around what is this. Because again nobody could explain her, so she asked me once more. I explained her that I am a ship owner, and this is my owner’s sign and from today she can travel on my passengers' ships free of charge, everywhere she only wish to go. This I pierced all of them!!! She was delighted and she was dancing now only for me... "Sheikh" got himself nervous; American was laughing like a crazy.... In sure moment she tore out herself a black long hair, she wraps upon a cigarette and she gave me. "Sheikh" explained me that this is a Berber’s sorcery and then when I light this cigarette with hair I will fall in love with her till the end of my life. I lighted the cigarette, but I threw out the hair just in case it might be the truth. Certainly I am not superstitious, but on Fridays I hate to sail, and when I will see nun, or black cat crossing my road …I come back to home. Suddenly drunk already the American began to dance on the floor and girls ran away. Between Arabs murmur of discontent passed- men do not dance here. This game could bring bad result and become dangerous. When I was trying to pull down him from the floor, not successfully, suddenly into club ... came two policemen. They were equipped with large white sticks, white helmets, and white belts. I thought to myself, that this could be end of the game and soon they will put us into handcuffs... I was not right ... It came out, that the owner of the club called them for our protection. The game was lasting until white morning had come.. But it is another story. For adults only ... Capt. W. Grycner