Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-09-10
Letter from the Old World.
BY MISS JENNIE A. NELSON.
DEHRA Doom, NORTHERN INDIA,


promised in former letter, to give you
description of a Native Betrothal, l saw very
Unexpectedly one night. / think have spoken
of village In the corner of our Compound.
The people are called "Chamars" They dress
in the skins of animals, and live on putrid
flesh. They are among the very lowest castles,
and live, oh, SO Wretchedly. One night about
10 o'clock was going through the girls de-
partment, to see that they were all in bed,
when heard great noise in the village, and
saw great crowd with torches, and heard mu-
sic of very rude description. Miss Campbell,
one of our teachers, was with me, and we got
the old native woman who has charge OF the
cooking department 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 were the most
grotespue figures | ever saw, and the many Gu
rious postures into which they threw them
selves were truly astonishing, [ can give you
no adequate idea of it. We asked one of the
women what it all meant. She said it was a
double wedding, or rather the betrothal of two
girls. We asked If we could see the grooms. At
ter some time the crowd separated into two
lines, and some men came out, with tlC0 boys
in their arms, dressed in the most fantastic
style. They had any quantity of silver brace
lets on their arms and ankles, silver necklaces,
and long guard made of Rupees. The Ru-
pees are just the size of our silver half dollars.
On their heads they had crowns, made of some
kind of tinsel, which shone very brightly
These crowns were very high, and looked like
little cupolas. They had white paint on their
foreheads, 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 bridegrooms
We asked where the brides were, and were
informed they were in the house dsleepi they
were very small children. The Oldest groom
looked to be about eight years old. and the 9TH
er four.
The natives often spend much more than
they are worth on marriage feast, and they
keep it up sometimes whole week. The mar
rage takes place at midnight. s1At midnight
the cry was heard, Behold the Bridegroom
cometh, go ye out to meet him." This cry is
still heard in this land, just as it was in the
time of the foolish virgins, land they are not
all dead yet y The lamps or torches, and oil
vessels are like those used by the ten virgins.
I will try and send some home when | get my
my box Of curiosities ready.
By the way, if any of my picture-loving
friends wish to add to their collections, can
send them any number of fine Photographs of
the most interesting places, such as the ''Taj,"
Hearl mosque, ana Akar HaIaco at Agra,
Ruins of Delphi, The Well of Caunpore, where
Mr.. Campbell and other missionaries were kill
ed, &C., &C., for Rupees each, ($l.50). [
can send any number Of them unmounted, at
newspaper postage rates, six cents, and the
money can be sent me by bill of exchange. On
these We get premium, sometimes more,
sometimes less. / will be glad to attend to any
such commissions for any of my friends.
| am SO glad to see the Highland News"
that old friend of my early days. read all the
advertisements, and everything in it. [ am
most happy to be able to contribute to its col
umns, and hope it may be the means of ava
kening deeper interest In and sympathy for
this beautiful land of everlasting Spring" and
never whitening flowers" the wealth, gems
and spices Of which led to the discovery of our
own noble, grand, beautiful, highly favored,
much-loved America. May America be ever
ready, in return, to send to India the Pearl
of great price
A few words about the weather. This is
May 3lst, and about as warm as our July
With the thick walls and 'Pankas,' I have
not suffered as much as [ have often done at
home. We have six Pankas in the school-room
and when they are all In motion it is delightful
They would be nice in our churches at home,
and do away with the flutter of SO many fans
just as [ finished that sentence, a large
bunch of beautiful flowers, dish of large, rich
looking pluuls, and one Of rosy peaches, came
to my room, sent by kind English lady Of the
station, from whom have received many such
marks of kindness. My path is literally strewn
with flowers. J. A. N.