The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-06-04
TOORKISTAN.
Curious Marriage Ceremonies in the Fn
East.

East
The Toorkoman girls do not become
manageable till the age of sixteen or
seventeen years. Up to that time the
parents endeavor to relieve their daugh-
tiers from excessive labor in order to
preserve their freshness and beauty,
thanks to which they will be in a posi-
ton to demand from the future bride
groom the highest price the latter is in
position to give for bride. And as,
in this nomad race, the women do not
cover their faces, 1t is not difficult to
choose a bride from among them. Hav-
ing made his selection, the Toorkonan
intrusts to kinswoman or friendsof the
bride the task of proposing in his name
to her parents, and settling the price.
For a we'll 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 hundred and seventy-eight
pounds; for an ordinary girl they pay
from sixty to eighty tOn1Gns; for one
who squints, or is deaf, or dumb, or dis
figured by smallpox, they do not pay
more than fifteen or twenty tOn7Gns.
The same prices are given for handsome
female slaves. The children of the lat
ter are not recognized as on the same
footing with the chlldI en- of the same
father and free woman, and, in the
distribution of the Inheritance they re-
celve lesser portion.
After the conclusion of the contract
by the mediators, and the acceptance of
the terms by both parties, a nloLL0h is
summoned, who cOmposes a written
contract, and select propitious day for
the marriage ceremonies. 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 with all the available carpets,
bags, silk rags, feathers, etc., in the
place. The bride is generally brought
away at midday; If the bridegroom is
not IN position to spend much on the
wedding, he brings his bride home at
night, and then thu wedding takes place
without guests.
The brldegroom's mother, sisters, fe-
male relations, and other friends, adorn-
| ed with all their available treasures.
and with all their heads attired for the
| occasion differently from the usual man.
ner, collect and adorn three or four
| camels with carpets and variegated
! pieces OF silk. These stuffs, sewed to-
! gether, cover the head and neck of the
animal, and are fastened to the saddle
and thus the procession proceeds for
the bride to the tent of the parent.
The men now divide into two groups;
one proceeds on foot, as an escort to
the women the other, armed as if for
a foray, proceed in front of the bridal
train. At short distance from the
brides tent they spur up their horses,
alschargee, at full speed, guns and pis
toIs, and perform various evolutions.
They then enter the tent, and there, af.
ter a conversation of about an hours
length, sort of strife is entered into
between the relatives and friends of the
bride and those who have come to move
her from the paternal roof. The bride
generally feigns to refuse to quit hel
relatives, and, when they succeed in
taking her from the tent, they place her
on a carpet spread in front of the tent
by those men who had marched on foot
in the procession. After this, having
seized on the ends of the carpet. these
men hasten to the spot where the cam
els were left standing. The horsemen
cover their flight, firing into the brides
party, who follow the men with the car.
pet, and hurl clods of earth at them
the fugitives, obliged to cover theiI
/ heads with wet cloths, sometimes let &c
the carpet, or stumble on some ineuuaI
ity of ground, and fall on the top Of
the other.
Having reached the spot where the
camels stand, the pursuit ceases. They
cause the bride to emerge from the car.
pet; the women arrange her dress, an6
cover her head and face with a veil
leaving open only the eyes and nose
Placed IN front, among the nearest re
latlons of the bridegroom, the young
girl proceeds at the head of the cOTteOe
She keeps herself erect and look
straight before her; when passing nea,
the tents, the women around the bride
slightly raise her veil, in order to dis
play her to the curious. Just befort
reaching the bridal tent, the horseme
ride forward and commence firing, ant
uttering piercing cries. The road i
thronged with people who salute tn
bride with deafening hurrahs and. a
the moment when she prepares to eros
the threshold of the bridal abode. the,
place under her feet pieces of pastr
for the children the latter appear i
the maTriage-train, and generally max
a terrible uproar.
During this hurly-bufly the wome
lead the bride into the tent of tn
, bridegroom, and place her back to tn
entrance. The females in the vicinit
; then hasten to congratulate her, bu
the entrance is barred to the mer
These remain in the street and pass til
! time till the dinner in single combs
3 and racing both on horseback and o
foot. In the evening they smoke, drin
tea, and listen to music.
. There is yet an original marriao
: custom, mentioned only by Vamber1
u This ceremony consists in the bird,
. enveloped from head to foot in a veil {
silk handkerchief, racing on horsebac
!, with her bridegroom not unfrequentl
n the yelled Amazon reaches the 90,
. sooner than the youth accustomed |
= galloping and untrammeIed in his mi
: tlons. Sometimes the gallopinp bird
: holds on her knees a slaughterd lam
or kid pursued by the bridegroom an
other youths, she had to escape the,
= dnring the whole race, and not suff,
- one to approach her, preserved thus h,
. lamb or kid. This pastime is called IL
= &" Green Wolf"
= The newly married girl remains
n home the first fortnight, and occupi,
"a herself with needle-work, in the societ
% OF fen ale relatives of the husband an
n their acquaintance. During this d
:, Rod men are admitted to nav their r
g poets. After this the female relatives
e the husband lead the bride away to b,
= parents, with whom she lives a year I
eighteen months after her weddini
Here she makes carpets, sacks, linen
l. etc, for her future household, viii
her husband is permitted to visit b,
clandestinely from time to time. Du
o ing all this time the parents are respoI
/ sibie for the conduct of their dauehte
8 After the lapse of tie appointed tim
y the female relatives of her husban
= come to fetch ne and she g es to hi
e on an Ornamented camel, and leav,
n him no more. On this occasion anotbe
. and exclusive family festival is held.