Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-04-21
Marriage Ceremonies In the Different
Countries q Asia.

prove satisfactory to the woman Of the
period. In nearly all the countries Of the
East, women are regarded a. property,
and marriage consists of . bargain be
between the bridegroom and the parents
ofthe bride. The affections of the women
are seldom consulted; they are passively
guided by others, and accept their situa-
ton, - useful and convenient slaves to
the stronger sex. The wedding ceremo-
MES in thedifferent countries bears gener-
q resemblance. In Birmah, marriage u q
civil contract; the law allows but one
wife. The formalities are conducted the
came - in India. Relatives agree con-
corning the amount of dowry the bride
groom sends presents according TO his
wealth, feasts are given, and the married
couple eat from the same dish, which u
the only time woman Is allowed to eat
with man! In Siam the parents consult
the daughters inclination In regard to
the young man who demands her for .
wife. If all approve the match,
omens are consulted. coptracts signed,
dowries paid, the priest sphnkles them
with cOnsecrated water, and repeats
prayera Feasting and dancing complete
the ceremony.
Among the different castles Of the Hin.
docs, the ceremonies vary. Some of them
require no form but the consent OF the
parties. They exchange necklaces or
Wreaths, the girl saying, / am thy wiz" "
and the bridegroom, "1t is true" Among
the higher castles they are conducted with
great formality and pomp.
In Persia, the bridegroom sends on the
morning of the wedding, train of mules,
laden with presents, to the bride. The
day Is spent in feasting. Towards even
ing, the bride, who is always yelled,
mounted on superbly decorated mule,
and accompanied by long train of rela-
tives and friends, proceeds to the house OF
her destined husband. who, with similar
procession, rides forth to meet her. She
accompanied to the apartments prepared
for her, and from that moment is 3 lawful
wife, The festivities usually continue for
three days. The customs In Thibet are
very extraordinary, one woman is the
wife of whole family Of brothers, be the
family large or small It Is custom
which prevails with all ranks. The mar.
rage is without ceremony, mutual con-
sent being the bond of union. This union
can only be dissolved by the consent of all
the parties, and they are never after ut
liberty to form any other connection. 1t
is said that instances of infdelity are ex-
tremely rare.
In China the bridegroom knows moth
ing of his intended wife, except what he
gathers from the friends who arrange the
preliminaries of the marriage, and de-
termine the sum to be paid for the bride.
On the day of the wedding, the bride is
placed in q palanquin, the key Of which
is sent to the bridegroom. She is escorted
to his house, where he opens the palan.
quin and examines his bargain. If he is
pleased, he conducts her into his dwelling,
where the marriage is celebrated with re-
joicings; but if he Is not favorably i'm
pressed, he closes the palanauin and sends
her back. In that case he IL obliged to
pay sum of money equal to the first he
gave for her. G&< td 3S8
After q Syrian lady is betrothed, she
does not see her intended husband until
the wedding ceremonies are completed.
Five days before he summons her, he
sends q female friend, who bears to her
Jewels for her head, neck, and arms, &C
cording to his wealth and rank. Under
the supervision Of this friend the bride is
bathed, hand stained, face painted, and
wedding robes put on. After she is
adorned, she is obliged to sit in corner
with closed eyes for q whole day; then
she is escorted, with eyes still closed, to
the house of her husband, by his rela
tives, and accompanied by procession Of
women, musicians, and mules bearing the
dresses, ornaments and utensils which
she has received. In Arabia the cere-
mony is performed by priest. He joins
the hands of the parties and reads verses
from the Koran, then blindtolds the bride.
The bridegroom leads her to his tent,
seats her on mat and says, "You are at
home" He returns to the assembled COM
pany and Joins in the Teasing The bride
remains blindfolded week, during which
time some friend performs the domestic
duties for her.
In Armenia the priest performs the GER
emory by leading the bridegroom and
bride, whose head Is covered with q linen
veil, into the centre of the apartment,
where he joins their hands and knocks
their foreheads together A cruciix is
swung over their heads while the priest
chants and sings After this he ties
around the bridegroom's brow red and
white string, and asks: "If she Is lame,
thou acceptest her?' If she is blind
thou acceptest herr" "If she is hump
backed, thou acceptest her ?" To each
question he answers, II accept" Then
tying Q string around the brow of the
bride, the priest says: Thou acceptest ?"
81 accept" she replies. Feasting and
amusement last for three days. during
which time the bride is obliged to sit ST.
lent and motionless At the end Of ~ t
time the priest removes her veil, Il !,
of the string from her brow, and she is
allowed for the first time TO speak. The
Turkish ceremonies are simple, and usu-
ally performed at the mosque by the
priest, who joins the hands OF the couple,
and recites prayers from the Koran. The
bridal veil is bright red, with yellow
border. The wedding festivities last four
days, and usually commence on Monday,
20 % to avoid the Mohammedan Sabbath,
which comes on Friday. The Babylon
ians had the custom of yearly conducting
all the manageable girls 70 public
assembly, where they were put up at aucI
ton. The most beautiful were sold frst
and of&en for large sums The deformed
and homcly ones were disposed of next
and a. the price paid for, the ,besutiful
Ones wal divided into dovfies yof them,
the poor received them willingly for the
sake Of their portion.
~ In the patriarchial age the marriage