Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-16
From Ella Turquie 4actuelle. u

There is nothing more simple OF barren in Incl
dents than Turkish marriage. This is nearl
what takes place: Esms has reached he
twelfth summer-she has been betruthed sine,
her fourth year to Behir, who is now eighteen
it is time for them to he united. Bekir does no
know Esme, or al least he has quite forgotter
her features since the time when she came,
child. to visit his mother. Es,ne, ON her side
has retained still more confused notion of Bekir
for this reason she begs her mother before renew
ing the contract to let her see once again his tea
lures. The mother consents, and one day, when
Beklr is visiting his future papa in law, Esme
looks in from behind lattice Bekr also is im-
patient to know the person who is tu be his wife
His mother has repeatedly praised her beauty
but can he believe her, when her heart is set on
the marriage? He therefore applies to some
skillfi,l and discreet old woman, generally Jew
ess whom he requests to make her way by some
pretext into Esme's harem, that she may see her
and observe her closely. The amhassadress re-
turns the next day or so. and does not fail to
draw the most enticng portrait of the lady she
has seen-a mnon of beauty, tee,h like iearls.
eyes resembling two stars, the eyebrows two
rainbows. Bekir thanks God and the Prophet !;
then he pours into the hands Of the duenna a
handful of bechleqs, and sends his future wife bas
kets or vases filled with flowers fruit, and con.
fectionery. The offering which we call the cor
belle de r1oces follows Immediately on the sigma
lure of the contract. This corbielle consists
chiefly ofdresses and jewelry, with the addition
of looking glass and pair Of embroidered bath
clogs The present is de riqueur. Bekir re-
ceives in return linen and towels, embroidered in
gold. silver or silk. The members of the two
families also interchange presents. Severe days,
frequently weeks, intervene between the signature
of The contract and the celebration Of the mar
rage. The time is employed by Bekir in the
payment of the duwry by the parents of the la
dy in getting her trouSseau and wedding apparel
in readiness. The wedding lasts four days, from
Monday morning TO sunset ON THURSDAY. The
first night of the nuplials is fixed fol that day,
which is considered more propitious than the 9th
ers, because Of the conception of Nlohammed.-
The wedding festivities in both houses are kept
up by the men and women separately. They
principally consists in banquets, the intervals
being filled up with coffee, sherbet, cnnfectione-
ry. perfumes, and pipes. A grave hllarlty pre-
sides over these meetings., which are enllvened at
times by bands Of juggers and slory.tellers. Re-
latiuns and friends are invited To pass alternate
days in the two houses, and The long and wide
sofas which adorn The selamlik and harem serve
distinguished By different ceremony. On Tues
day the ady's ,roussrau is carried in great state
from her residence to that Of her husband. On
Wednesday evening she is taken to The bath, to
which ceremony all the poor women IN the quar-
ter are invited. They Oh anlsing dcp"sIte their
rauupd clothes in the first room, aud find. on
quitting the bath, new dress. with sum of
money proportoned to the rank and fnrune of the
husband In Turkey charity is UNIVERSAL
The next day, in the afternoon. the lady accompa
MED by her mother, sisters. and servants, leaves
her dwelling f,r that of her husband. The rela
tunssuf both the families are assembled, the men
in the selamlik the women in the harem. The
rejuicngs. which are kept up till night fall. terml-
nate in supper. At the hour of fifth Namaz,
the husband, after kissing the hand OF his father
his unces, his elder brothers, gdes mvsteriously
into the harem, where Esme is awaiting him.
seated on sofa. her head covered with ve.-
On seeing her husband she rises. and while he is
irving to take her hand, she raises his and kisses |
IT. in token of Submission. Bekir is preparing 10
false the mysterious veil, bat the unlucky old |
woman is still seated mnlonless in corner. like
I statue in its niche. The old woman is thrust
ont. after some feigned reluctance and the wife
appears for the first time before the eyes of her
delighted husband.