The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-23

If one OF the Sultan's daughters has !.
tanned the age at which Turkish girls Ar
generally married, the father seeks a hra
band for her among the mobiles at Ii.
court. IL young man specially please
her, he Is given the rank of lieufenan,
general, nothing lower being ever selectaS
The chosen man receives, in addition !
magnificent, fully furnished palace ana
sixty thousand. piasters a month pocko4
money; and, in addition, his father-in-a~
hefrays all the housekeeping expenses.
me bridegroom is not always over ana
above pleased at being selected. If he h.
married, he is obliged to get divorce. hs
NEST never have wife or mistress in add.
ton 10 tho princess; and, moreover be i,
regarded as the servant rather than ths
husband OF his wife. The Sultan himself
announces to him his impending good for.
tune, ana 1t is his bounden duty to bow
reverentialiy, kiss the Sultan's feet. and
stammer few words about the high hon.
or, the unexpected happiness, etc. II.
then proceeds with a chamberlain. WIZ
bears the imperial Haiti Humagoun TO thu
Sublime Porte. A military band precedes
him, and soldiers are drawn up along tia
road, who present arms. At the head of
the stairs the bridegroom is received nv
the grand vizier, conducted by him into
room where all the ministers are Assem-. !,
bled, and the haiti is read aloud. This coz.
emory corresponds to the betrothal.
The marriageceremOny is much like that
OF the ordinary Turkish mobiles, IF ths
bridegroom be rich he himself pays for thu
trousseau, but, as general rule, the Sultan
sends him money for it. The presents ara
placed in gold and silver baskets, on whose
lids flowers or billing doves are represent
ed, and consist ofdiamOnds, rubies, pearls.
diadems, bracelets, grdles, cups, and
thousand smaller articles III gold, furs.
gold embroidered dresses and shawls.-
4 hrII T~,Hf Gal H.
ir-law a splendid sabre, buttons, and
watch and chain, all naturally sparkling
with diamonds, and from his bride rosa.
~ OF fine pearls and linen of every descrip-
ton. The custom has been abolished Of
the ministers making presents. The dowry
OF the princess is most costly. Madam
Olympia saw dress which cost above
fifteen thousand pounds. But little Of the
fine texture was visible beneath the EN-.
brodery and pearls.
When the presents have bee delivered to
he bridegroom, the bride proceeds on tho
next morning to his house. in order to look
at the arrangements. Our authoress was
present when the Princess Fatime, the be.
trothed Of Ali Ghalib Pasha, paid such
visit. Accompanied by numerous suite.
the bride drove in "a state carriage which
had cost CISCO, through the densely crowd.
ed streets. She wore sky blue silk dress,
covered with mass of pearls and dia-
! III.
ed in texture OF gold thread. The bride
groom received her on the thresh.
hold of his house. He was a handsome
young man, but naturally somewhat pale
and excited, as he had never seen his fu-
ture wife and on this occasion could only
notice her outline as she was so overladen-
ed with ornaments. When he had saluted
her with deep bow and led her by the
hand into the house, he would away again.
The first visit Of the bride is intended to
enable her to examine the internal ar.
rangements of her future home without
any obstacles or disturbance.
The actual meeting of the new couple
takes place on the evening of this day. At
nine O'Clock the princess proceeds to the
stateroom Of the palace prepared for her,
and seats herself on a throne. Two ladies
OF honor station themselves on either side
of her. AT the feet of the lady, who is
splendidly dressed and covered with .
large veil, lies richly embroidered carpet
The husband has supped in his old resi-
dence with his relations and frients, and
said his prayers III mosque. Shortly
after nine o'clock he proceeds to the prin.
cess, and is conducted to her by two Gu
nichs, who are awaiting him at the door,
The first thing he does is to kneel down on
the carpet and offer up a prayer. When
this is concluded he approaches his wife,
salutes her submissively, kisses her hand
and says few words that occur to him at
the moment. The ladies of honor then re-
move her veil and he sees whether lie has
married pretty or an ugly woman
Whether she be pretty or to the contrary,
u princess will always let her husband feel
how high she stands above him. He occu-
pies room next to hers, and must await
her commands there at all hours. Wheth-
er he have friends with him or be alone, so
soon as one of her eunichs summons him
to her presence he must rise at once, make
Il, 81
and then his forehead with his right hand
and proceed to her apartment. There he
is expected to stand until she requests him
to he seated. Ii he wish to pay visit to
her family, or go on business, he must
first ask her leave; and if he remain away
unusually late he must inform her oft
and Of the cause. His wife never lets him
go out alone, some of her eunichs accompa-
ny him and would inform her if he were to
do anything naughty.
In such marriages the couple do not take
their meals together. His are served up
to him in his room without ceremony, but
she eats like princess. At meal time
handsome carpet is spread in her room,
and . large or small table placed upon it,
according as to whether the lady dimes
alone or has invited other ladies. For her
use large silver salver is brought in and
covered with fine muslin. Before the meal
begins, a young slave, who has no other
Uuty Uut tuiS, hiIceIo uOWu Uclofc ucAS
holds up u golden wash-basin, and pours
lukewarm water over her hands from can
in the form of the Greek amphorp. An.
other female slave hands her q napkin OF
white silk with gold fringe: The kitchen
is outside the harem, and all the dishes are
brought in, in basket lined with white
muslin. This basket is sealed up in the
kitchen, and before the princess tastes
dish, a lady in waiting examines the seals
to see that they are unbroken. After din
ner, during which female slaves perform
music, the princess washes her hands
again, and then proceeds to another room
in order to perform her devOti0ns. After
this the evenings amusements commence.
Reclining on divan, she smokes pipe or
cigar, while slaves read or sing to her. II
she has invited any lady friends, there is 3
concert and ballet, or a theatrical perform,
ance, and during it rare fruits, pastry and
coffee are handed round. If the princess
desires to see gentlemen, she gives her hus-
band orders to send out invitations to GER