Connecticut western news., 1875-07-02
AN ORIENTAL WEDDING.
A Ceremony to which Europeans are Rarel
 Admitted Described by a Lady.

CefemOny to which Europeans are Rarely
 Admitted Described by a Lady.
 -. The wife of prominent gentleman in Alexandria, Egypt, who was enabled to attend an oriental wedding, sends an interesting account to Boston paper, which we quote: When the Empress Eugenie was in Alexandria she desired so ardently to see true oriental marriage that the viceroy, in order to oblige her majesty, got one up expressly. Of course every traveller hopes and tries to have the same privilege, but it is very difficult, and I consider myself so for tunate in having seen real pasha' s daughter married to 8 genuine bey that I am in friendship bound to communi- cate to you, dear sympathizer, impress sions which have so much interested me-
 Our invitation was complete-the three days of preliminary dancing, bath ing, driving, and eating-but, as the consul general assured me the last even- ing was all that was really worth seeing, my strength, the heat, and other occupa- tions were taken into consideration, and we assisted only at the last and closing sceneaa1It was nearly eight o'clock when we quilted the hotel, and we went di- rectly to the pasha's house. At the door the gentlemen, were, directed one way, and great strapping eunuch seized upon me in the most affectionate-I should say ceremonious manner, for ori- ental hospitality goes to- make 8 guest understand that not even the trouble of walking is permitted in the harem. q than cries and howls met my astonished T !,
 bath and was being conducted to her apartment, so the singers, dancers and old women yelled ase hard and as dis cordantly as possible. By this time I was up stairs, and about to pass into the saloon when renewed howls announced the approach of the unhappy husband. A, crowd. of females rushed to the doors to catch g glimpse of him-pushing, crowding each other, and pretending to hide their faces with the curtains hang ing before the openings. My eunuch made good my place, and when the ex- citement was over entered the saloon. In one corner was a large, low, round table, or rather platter, with a pedestal not more than six inches high, upon which were many bits of bread, jug of water, and dish in, the middle, while around it were grouped as many chil- dren and nurses as could get one hand forward-armed with wooden spoons, each made good her right to the con- tents of the dish. ......
 sat down beside 8 fat, painted, dowager-looking lady, hoping to enter into conversation of signs, if not of words, when, to my delight, pretty little girl with black wafer between her eyes came up, kissed me, and said. in broken English "I am very happy to see you. My brother (the bride groom) told me you would come. Be welcome" Then came two others, younger and prettier than herself, with black wafers between their eyes, kissed me likewise, and sat down. Of course l asked about the wafer; it is the sign of family felicity, and each female mem Der was so adorned. Presently the girls were called away, and an American lady Ca doctors wife, I believe, resident in Cairo) came up, and expressed her de- light at meeting some one with whom she could converse. She had been there since three o'clock, and gave me details of the never-ending ceremonies. She was friend of the families, felt such sympathy fs the bride, who was nearly fainting from fatigue, etc. u
 Presently fat, good-natured looking person entered, whom I thought I rec ognized. She looked at me, at her, and then we shook hands. It was the first slave, or rather tres0rieye, of the Princesse Mere, to whom had paid my first harem visit an important person age in this country, it appears. She came escorted by tribe of eunuchs, she in her carriage, and followed by them on horseback. After speaking to the different important persons present, she came back to me, chucked me under her arm, sent the eunuchs right and left, cleared the way, and marched off with mel had no idea where; but I saw everybody envied me. The doctors wife did her best to follow, but the chief eunuch unceremoniously pushed her back and defended the passage. My guide knocked at 8 door, and, after an exchange of questions and answers, we were admitted the brides bedroom. She sat upon a sofa covered with gold and jewels, looking sadly tired, poor thing. Beside her sat the bey, a hand some young man of twenty three. How bored and bothered he looked. to be sure!
 He rose at once, and saluted US in perfectly good French. I had never seen him, and was surprised at finding he was so much at his ease in addressing me, but I learned later that he had been educated in England and in Paris, and was acquainted with my husband. He presented me to his bride. His sisters and mother were there. All had the disfguring black wafer between thei1 eyes, and the bride had her eyes painted to meet. Ugly enough, poor thing particularly when she raised her crossed eyes but Emir Bey had married with out having seen her, on his sisters rec ommendation, the advantage of good