The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-03-12
MARRIAGE CEREMONIES IN T0OR.
KTSTAN.

KfSrAN.
The Toorkoman girls do not become
manageable till the age of sixteen or
seventeen years. Up to that time their
parents endeayor to relieve their daugh-
ters from excessive labor, IN order to
preserve their freshness and beauty,
tn nks to which they viii be in POI
sition to demand from the future bride
groom the highest price the latter is in
a position to give for a bride. And as,
in this nomad ace, the women do not
cover their faces, it is not difficult to
choose q bride from among them. Hav-
ing made his selection, the Toorl1oInan
intrusts to a kinswoman or friend of
the bride the task of proposing in his
name tO-her parents, and of settling the
price.
For a well-made, handsome, and
healthy girl, they pay usually from one
hundred TO one hundred and sixty to-
mans (frOm one hundred and eighty-six
to two ehundred and seventy-eight
pounds).; for an ordinary girl they pay
from sixty to eighty tO1ldnS for one
who counts, or is deaf, or dumb, or
disfgured by smallpox, they do not
pay more than fifteen or twenty tonldns.
The same prices are given for a hand
some female slave. The children OF the
latter are not recognized as on the same
footing With the children of the same
father and a free woman, and, in the
distribution of tho inheritance, they
receive lesser porion.
After the conclusion Of the contract
by the mediators, and the acceptance of
the terms by both parties, a 2aoIiah is
summoned, who compose5 a written
contract, and selects a prOpitious day
for the marriage ceremony. The bride
groom sends the bride certain presents,
among which sheep for the wedding
feast are always found. On the day Of
the wedding the tent of the bride is
decked out with all the available car
/ pets, bags, silk rags, fenthers, etc, IN
| the place. The bride is generally
brought away at midday if the BRIDE
groom is not in a position to spend
much on the wedding, he brings his
! wife home at night, and then the wed
| ding takes place without guests.
The bridegroom's mother, sisters, fe-
male relations, and friends, adorned
with all their available treasures, and
with their heads attired for the occa-
I sion differently from the usual manner,
collect aud adorn three or four camels
/ with carpets and Yariegated pieces of
4 Tx. These stuff5, sewed together,
cover the head and neck of the animal,
I and are fastened to the saddle and
4 thus the procession proceeds for the
bride to- tent of the parents.
The men now divide into groups; one
proceeds on foot, as an escort to the
women the other, armed as If for q
foray, proceeds in front of the bridal
train. At short distance from the
brides tent they spur on their horses
discharge, at full speed, guns and pis-
/ tolls, and perform various other evolu-
tions. They then enter the tent, and
| there, after a conversation of about az
hours length, a sort OF strife is entered
into between the relations and friends
of the bride and those who have come
to remove her from the parental roof
The bride generally feigns to refuse
TO quit her relatives, and, wher
they succeed at last in taking her from
the tent, they place her on carpet
spread in front of the tent by those
men who bad marched on foot In the
process ion. After this, having seized
on the ends of the carpet, these meI
hasten to the spot where the camel,
we're left standing. The horsemen cover
their flight, firing into the brides party
who follow the men with the carpet
and hurl clods of earth at them the
fugitives, obliged toeoyer their heads
with their clothes, sometimes let go the
carpet, or stumble on some inequality
of the ground, and fall one n the tor
of the other. sAtft fft - rstt
Having reached the spot where tn
camels stand, the pursuit ceases. The,
cause the bride to emerge from tn
carpet the women arrange her dres
and cover her head and face with veil
1 Iau aVtwr fhn ora1
Placed in front, among the nearest rela
tions of the bridegroom, the young CIR
proceeds at the head of the cOrtege
She keeps herself erect, and look
straight before her ; when passing nea
the tents, the women around the brid
slightly raise her veil, IN order to dis
I play her TO the curious. just befor
reaching the bridal tent, the horsemel
ride forward and recommence firing
uttering piercing cries. The road
thronged with people, who salute tn
bride with deafeDing hurrahs; and, a
the moment when she prepares 20 eros
) the threshold of the bridal abode, the,
place under her feet pieces of pasiF
for the children the latter appear i
the marriage-train, and generally max
! a terrible uproar.
During This hurly-burly the womel
i ANaAA eAAG hAANA- AAAO AAA0 ANAA- Va N4A1 bAAA
groom, and place her aside, with he
back TO the entrance. The females il
! the vicinity then hasten 10 visit and con
gratulate her, but the entrance Is barre
to the men. These remain in the street
7 and pass the time till dinner in singh
, combat and racing, both on horsebacl
! and on foot. In the evening they smoke
drink tea, and listen to music.
There is vet another original mari
age custom, mentioned only by Vambe
nv. This ceremony consists in th
bride, envelOped from head to foot In
veil or silk handkerchief, racing OF
horseback with her bridegroom; no
unfrequently the yelled Amazon reach
es the goal sooner than the youth &C
oustomed TO galioping and untrammelet
in his motions. Sometimes the csllop
ing bride holds on her knees a slaugh
tered lamb or kid pursued by th'
bridegroom and other youths, she ha,
to escape them during the whole race
and not suffer ono to approach her, pre-
serving thus her lamb or kid. Thil
pastime is called the "Green Volt"
The newiy married girl remains a
home the iirst Fortnight, and occupies
{ herself with needie-work, in the society
of the female relatives of her husband
aud their acquaintRnces. During thi.
period men are admitted TO paw Their
respects. After this the female rela
tives Of tho husband lead the bird,
away to her parents, with whom sh,
lives for year or eighteen months at
ter her wedding. Here she employ
herself in making carpets, sncks, linen
etc, for her future household, whil'
the husband is permitted TO visit he
elandestine1y from time 20 hme.s Dur
ing all this time the parept e are respon
sible for the conduct OF their daughter
After the lapse OF the appointed time
the female relatives Of her husband
come 90 fetch her. anoeshs goes 10. hin
On an ornamented camel, and leavei
him no more. On this occasion another
nnd exclnsiSelv family festival. is held