The Hickman courier., 1874-03-07
MARRIAGE CEREMONIES IN TOOR
KISTAN.

The Toorkoman girls do not become
marriageable till the age of sixteen or
seventeen years. Up to that time their
parents endeavor to relieve their daugh-
tiers from excessive labor, in order to
preserve their FRESHNESS SIS and beauty,
tn nks to which they Will be in po-
sition to demand from the future bride
groom the highest price the latter is in
a position to give for bride. And as,
in this nomad race, the women do not
cover their faces, it is not difficult to
choose bri7e from among them. Hav-
ing made his selSetion, the Toorkoman
intrusts to kihswoman or friend of
the bride the task of proposing in his
name to her parents, and Snsmettl llpG.the 4
price.
! heafthy girl, they fJuy - 1llify from -.
| hundred to one hundred and sixty To-
MANS (from one hundred aud eighty-six
to two hundred and seventy-eight
peuu6s); for an NdinarS girl they pay
from sixty to eighty tO7laHs; for one
who squints, or is deaf, or dumb, or
disfigured by smallpox, they do not
pay more than fifteen or twenty tomanS.
The same prices are given for 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 the inheritance, they
receive a lesser portion.
After the conclusion of the contract
by the mediators, and the acceptance OF
the terms by both parties, n2OLtGh Is
summoned, who composes q written
contract, and selects a prOpitious day
for the marriage ceremony. The bride
groom sends the bride certain presents,
among which sheep for th klding-
feast are always found. Ons 1y oi
the wedding the tent of th5Agfide Is
decked out with all the available car
pets, bags, silk rags, feathers, etc, il
the place The bride is generally
brought away at midday; if thee pride.
groom is not in a position tq@epend
much on the wedding, he brings his
wife home at night, and then the we'd
ding takes place without guests.
The bridegroom's mother, sisters, fe
male relations, and friends, adorned
with all their available treasures, anC
| with their heads attired for the occa
sion differently from the usual manner
collect and adorn three or four cameli
with carpets and variegated pieces o.
Tx. These stuffs, sewed together
cover the head and neck of the animal
and are fastened to the saddle :; anC
thus the procession proceeds for the
bride to the tent of the parents.
The men now divide into groups one
proceeds on foot, as csc )rt to the
, women the other, armed as If for &
foray, proceeds in front of the brida
train. At a 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, anC
!, there, after a conversation of about al
hours length, a sort of strife is entered
isst atue e5ltba-re elatjons- and friends
The bride generally feigns to refus,
to quit her relatives, and, whe1
they succeed at last In taking her from
the tent, they place her ON a carpe
spread in front of the tent by those
men who had marched on foot in the
process ion. After this, having seized
on the ends of the carpet, these me1
hasten to the spot where the camels
were 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 to coaer their heads
with their clothes, sometimes let 90 the
carpet, or stumble on some inequality
| of the ground, and fall one n the tor
of the other.
Having reached the spot where the
camels stand, the pursuit ceases. They
cause the bride to emerge from the
carpet; the women arrange her dress
and cover her head and face with veil,
leaving open only the eyes and nose.
Placed IN front, among the nearest rela-
tlons OF the bridegroom, the young girl
proceeds at the head of the cortege.
She keeps herself erect, and looks
I Oh TrrlaA l.af l., L
the tents, the women around the bride
slightly raise her veil, in order q dis.
play her to the curious. Just gefore
reaching the bridal tent, the horsemep
ride forward and recommence firing.
utteriDg piercing cries. The road is
thronged with people, who salute the
bride with deafepiDg hurra t'hs.d, at
the moment when she prepa Cross
the threshold of the bridal sserfe. thew
place under her feet pieces of pastry
for the children; the latter appear in
the marriage-train, and generally make
a terrible uproar.
During this hurly-burly the women
lead the bride into the tent of the bride
| groom, and place her aside, with her
back to the entrance. The females in
the vicinity then hasten to visit and con-
gratulate her, but the entrance is barred
| ~ nc AACh. AAeSe Ie1ldl4 III the street,
and pass the time till dinner in single
combat and racinP, both on horseback
and on foot. In the evening they smoke,
drink tea, and listen to music.
There is yet another original marri
age custom, mentioned only by Vambe-
ry. This cerenDay consists in the
bride, enyeloped from head to foot IN a
veil or silk handkercAief, racing on
horseback with her brisi iegroom; not
unfrequently the yelled amazon REQ
ussis-Gsss-sss.----s<N
customed to gallopine -
in his motions. SometITnS gne callop
ing bride holds on her knees slaugh-