The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1872-08-22
Letters from the Old World.
BY MISS JENNIE A. NELSON.
NO, XVII,
DEHRA Doom, NORTHERN INDIA, /
MAY 81, 1872.


promised in a former letter, to give
you description of Native Betrothal,
l saw very unexpectedly one night, I
think 1 have spoken of village in the
corner of our compound" The peo-
pie are called HChamars." They dress
in the skins of animals, and live on pu-
trid flesh. They are among the very
lowest castles, and live, oh, so wretched-
ly. One night about 10 o'clock 1 was
going through the girls department, to
see that they were all in bed, when 1
heard a great noise in the village, and
saw great crowd with torches, and
heard music of very rude description.
Miss Campbell, one of our teachers, was
with me, and we got the old native wo-
man who has charge of the cooking de-
partment of our school to go with US
down to the end of the garden, that We
might see what they were doing and
how they did it.
Some men were dancing in the midst
of circle of men and women. They
we're the most grotesque figures 1 ever
saw, and the many curious postures into
which they threw themselves were truly
astonishing. 1 can give you no ade-
quate idea of it. We asked one Of the
women what it all meant. She said it
was double wedding, or rather the be-
trothal of two girls. We asked if we
could see the grooms. After some time
the crowd separted into two lines, and
some men came out, with tWo boys in
their arms, dressed in the most fantas-
tic style. They had any quantity of sill
yer bracelets on their arms and ankles,
silver necklaces, and long guard made
of Rupees. The Rupees are just the size
of our silver half dollars. On their
heads they had crowns, made of some
kind of tinsel, which shone very bright
| ly. These crowns were very high, and
looked like little cupolas. They had
white paint on their fore-heads, in lines
and spots, and black paint around their
eyes. The largest boy looked very
bright, and seemed to enjoy the honor
forced upon him, but the other was
sound asleep and it was all lost on him.
These boys were the bridegroomsl
We asked where the brides were, and
were informed they were in the house
asleep! They were very small children.
The oldest groom looked to be about
eight years old, and the other about
four!
The natives often spend much
more than they are worth on mar
riage feast, and they keep it up
sometimes a whole week. The
marriage takes place at midnight.
cat midnight the cry was heard,
Behold the bridegroom cometh, go
We out to meet him." This cry is
still heard in this land, just as it
was in the time of the foolish vir-
gins, (and they are not all dead yetD
The lamps or torches, and oil vessels
are exactly like those used by the
ten virgins. I will try and send
send some home when 1 get my box
of curiosities ready.
BY the way, if any of my picture.
loving friends wish to add to
their collections, I can send them
any number of fine Photographs of
the most interesting places, such as
the "Taj," "Pearl Mosque" and
Akbar's Palace at Agra" Ruins of
Delhi, The Well of Cauupore,
where Mr.. Campbell and our other
missionaries were killed, &c. &c.,
for 3 Rupees each (S1.50.) can
send any number of them unmount-
ed, at newspaper postage rates, six
cents, and the money can be sent
me by bills of exchange. On these
we get a premium, sometimes more
sometimes less. l will be to glad to
attend to any such commissions for
any of my friends.
I am so glad to see the "Highland
News" that old friend of my early
days. 1 read all the advertisements,
and everything in it. I am most
happy to be able to contribute to its
columns, and hope it may be the
means of awakening a deeper inter
: est in and sympathy for this beauti-
full land of "everlasting Spring" and
"never-withering flowers" the
) wealth, gems and spices of which
b led to the discovery of our own no
) BILE, grand, beautiful, highly favored,
much-loved America. May Ameri.
ca be ever ready, in return, to send
> to India the "Pearl of great price,
A few words about the weather
= This is May 31st, and about as warm
y as our July. With the thick wall:
n and "Pankas," 1 have not suffered
n as much as I have often done al
9 home. We have six Pankas in the
n School room, and when they are al
s in motion it is delightful. They
q would be nice in our churches a
j. home, and do away with the fiuttel
# of 30 many fans.
!. Just as 1 finished that sentence, {
a. large bunch of beautiful flowers, s
It dish of large, rich-Iooking plums
/. and one of rosy peaches, came to my
l. room, sent by kind English lad!
D of the station, from whom 1 have re
le ceived many such marks of kindness
al My path is literally strewn will
flowers. J. A. N.
j. Ralph Semmes, the commander
ID during the late unpleasantness of tn,
rs pirate ship Alabama, supports Gree
10 low He SaUS.