Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-08-28
A ROYAL MARRIAGE IN TURKEY.
Correspondence of the London rime.l


Correspondence Of the London Time-l
CoN,riNr1NopLE, June ).
On Thursday last the first part of the nuptia
fctcs ended with the solemn procession Of Zezi-
beh Sutana to her new abode, where her iuus-
scao had already preceded her on Monday last.
Both ceremonies were extremely curious. more
especially the taking home Of the bride, as it
Afforded one Of the few opportunities Of casting
glance on the internal life Of the Imperial Sc
rail and It's mc-honorcd customs. The sight
became doubly interesting from the circum-
stance that the BOsphorus was tine scene on
which it was displayed Not only did this en-
hance the beauty of the ceremony. but it made
it much more public thun il would have been
otherwise When the marriage cortcge goes by
land II IS formed inside the gates, and those out
side see only the string Of carriages.
The ceremony was announced for the hour of
noon, but long before that time the part of the
Bosphorus in front Of the Imperial Palace was
alive with caiques Of every size and description,
from the stately iive-oared, with its crew in
Brussa silk skirts, down to the most modest sin
glc-oared ca!qucs. with rag for a carpet and
jew for bOatman. Before the waiting rooms.
winch are separated by courtyard. transform
ed into garden, from the palace itself, the ca
iquos of all the pillars Of the state were drawn
up in line waiting for their masters These
latter perform in the marriages OF Suitanas the
part which in common marriages belong, to the
friends Of the bridegroom, while the female por-
ton of their families paid their homage to the
bride in the harcm. The palace showed no
great signs of preparation. All the range ofthe
apartments for males and the state apartments
looked IA, dead and deserted as usual only at
the gilt iron gate which leads to the harem
symptoms of life were visible. The prssage
leading down from the portico to the gate was
enclosed uv high screen of red cloth, and the
steps covered with gorgeous carpets, on which
gaudily- dressed slave children were disporting
themsclve, y few palace servants carving
trays tied up in colorcd gauzc along the quay
towards the caiques. some eunuchS in gilt uni
forms making themselves busy, and now and
then a whitctaccd palace digniiary trying to look
active were all that appeared. But if there
seemed little life in the palace, much the
more was outside The quay usually gray
and dismal, looked Ike the gay par,elre Of Il
colors of therainbow, were trying to settle down,
forgetting in their eagcrness of sight seeing.
their Unborn Oriental dignity, and ohattcring,
quarrelllng, and pushing about like any Euro
pean crowd.
At ! o'clock the indispensable salute of can
non announced the beginning Of the proceed
ings. One by one the high officials entered
their caiques passing the palace, they stopped
at some distance from It, waiting for the appear
ance of the bride. and ready to head the cortege
by degrees the palace caiqucs approached and
moored along the quay. leaving the place of hon
or before the gate to the splendid state caique
destined for the Sultand, and Immediately be
fore it another. similar but not so rich. for the
kisar Aga who has to deliver over the bride
to her future husband. The Sul.ana's caiaue
was painted white with richly gilt cary ings along
the bulwTkS, and rose-coloyed oars, likewise
relieved with ornaments. In the atterpart of il
beautiful little cabin, ali gold and pale blue,
wieh glirtcring Venetian blinds. was erected
y faint sound of song, the usual marriage dittv,
heraded the approach Of the bride; the chill
dren disappeared. the servants formed a row.
and the procession began.
First came. supported hv two blacks the ks
lar Aga, who !, at the head of the whole female
department OF the palace, and play, prominent
part on all such occasions. After him the mo-
ther Of the bride gorgcou>iy dressed in pink
satin ierlgoh. likewise supported by two blacks,
one Of them holding large pink umbrella. en-
broldercd in SiHcr over her head. She was
followed by the Younger brothers and sisters of
the bride, each OF them accompanied by their
mothers and their suites OF ladies and blacks.
When these had passed and taken their seats in
the caiqueS tine red screen was spread out, and
drawn down to the door Of the little cabin. so
as to conceal the bride from proane eyes In
spite of these precautions, before she descended
the flight of steps. one could catch a glance OF
her as she came out covered with rose -colored
veil from head to foot. and followed by host
Of ladies and children Of the palace, who accom-
panied her. singing the monotonouS marriage
chant, which sounded quite melodious as it came
across the water. The screen was Withdrawn,
and a fat eunuch, in rich uniform sat before
the door of the cabin, which had let in the bride
The signal was given and the procession start
ed the high officials in front according to their
rank-the highest nearest to the bride after
them the caique containing the kislar Aga, and
then the bride, followed by her sisters and bro
theirs, and her own and their suites,
The distance from the palace to Emerghan,
where Mustapha Pasha's summer palace has
been taken for the couple is about five miles,
and the sight which they presented while the
procession passed slowly was quite unique.
Wherever there is quay along the whole dis
tance il was covered with a multitude, almost
exclusively women, who in sightseeing have
here always the right OF precedence. Wherel CT
there is no quay and the houses rise close to the
water, the windows presented the same aspect
On all the prominent points the military were
drawn up, with their bands playing, so that the
cortege was almost all along accompanied by the
SOUND OF music. / ne effect which tins ensemble
produced it is impossible 10 describe. Color
which forms the most prominent feature in ev-
cry Eastern tabieau, lent to this, too, charm
OF its own; the most garing tints harmonized
and were framed in by the equally bright color.
ed houses on both Shores looking their best il
the brilliant sunshine, with emerald green hill,
as a background, cloudless sky above, and q
blue, calm sea below. 1t was u real feast foi
the eye.
After row of about an hour and half the
procession reached its destination. The Suta
ma stopped before the harem door in the caiqu,
until all the female part of the cortege had Ian
ded, and formed inside to receive her. Befor,
the screen was closed one could see the g,anc
maitresSe come down to introduce the bride t.
her house. Again the sounds of the marriage
song were heard, the screen was withdrawn, ant
the bride had passed.
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