The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-06-09
A Wedding Race.

A W00oauS hdCe'
Among the Husanehs-apeopl
| of Asia-the following is the way
weddings are managed: ;,
The suitors of the maiden, nine
in number, appear in the field, all
all unarmsd, but mounted on the
best horses they can procure
while the bride, herself, on a beau:
tiful Turkoman horse, surrounded
BY her relations, anxiously sur
veys the ground of lovers. The
conditions Of the bridal race are
these. -..
The maiden has certain start
given, which she avails herself to
gain q sufficient distance from the
crowd to enable her to manage her
: steed with freedom. 50 as to assist
in his pursuit the suitor whom
she prefers. On a signal from the
father, all the horsemen gallop
after the fair one, and whichever
first succeeds in encircling her
waist with his arm, no matter
whether disagreesble or to her
choice. is entitled to claim her as
his wife. IT,
After the usual delays incident
upon such interesting occasions,
the maiden quits the circle of her
relations, and putting her steed
into a hard gallop, darts into the
open plain. When satisfied with
her position, she turns round to
the impatient youths, andstretch-
es out her arm toward them, as if
TO WOO their approach. This is
the moment for giving the signal
to commence the chase, and, each
of the impatient youths, dashing
his pointed heels into his coursers
sides, darts like the unhooded
hawk in pursuit of the fugitive
dove. The savannah is generally
extensive, say twelve miles long
and three in width, and as the
horsemen speed across the plain,
the favored loversoon becomes ap-
parent by the efforts of the maid
en- to avoid all others who might
approach her. - ::
On q certain occasion, after two
hours racing, the number of pur-
suers were reduced to four, who
were altogether, and gradually
gaining on the pursued with them
is the favorite, but, alas his horse
suddenly fails in his speed, and:
as she anxiously turns her head,
she perceives with dismay the
hapless position of. her lover.
Each of the more fortunate lead
ers, eager with anticipated tri-
umph, bending his head upon his
horses name, shouts at the top of
his voice-"i come, my Peri I'm
your loverw But she, making a
sudden turn, and lashing her horse
almost to fury, darts across their
path, and makes for that part of
the chummon (plain) where her
lover was vainly endeavorlng to
to goad on his weary steed. The
three others instantly check their
career, but in the hurry to turn
back, two Of the horses are dashed
fariously against each other, so
that both steeds and riders roll
over on the plain.
The maiden laughed, for she
we'll knew she could easily elude
the single horseman, and few to
the point where her lover was.
But her only pursuer was rarely
mounted, and not SO easily shaken
off. Making a last and desperate
effort, he dashed alongside the
maiden, and stretching out his arm,
almost won the unwilling prize !;
but she, bending her head to her
horses neck, eluded his grasp and
wheeled off again. Ere the dis
comfted horseman could again ap-
proach her, her lovers arm was
around her waist, and amidst the
shouts Of the spectators they
turned toward the fort.