, 1877-01-27
COpT1C WEDDING AT CAIRO.
Knocking the Hride's and bride broom.
Heads Together,

Knocking the Dride's and nridsrroouoss
Heads Together,
,,, London Rscoryi
ae Aee!,hop XIII hp's? ate ss 1os.pst Sn pn et e ss e.
her sister at Cairo, has sent The following do.
scriptton Of coptlc wedding: ."~'
~ "lac bride wa one OF my eE6tef's old pu-
Of tho bo0rlcrs The wedding was held at t6c
bridegrootn's house, ~ 10 usual here. When We
came We werc shown into atnal1 room. no full
u t.e friends and neiehboFs Of the bride, all us-
eclnblel In their s,nartest attire, tl.at se did
dny' was placed.
''ehe was seated on the floor, her head coycs-
~ etiquette demands, took no notice Ut the
Visitors. Two Of three companions we're busy
ndofning her; her dress was gay.aowered
nroeaded Y si'k, tho neck and the whole front Ut
laces OF gold spangles, etc. One woman was
was fastening I splendid set 81 diamonds on =
band Of white cloth for security. These dia.
seTeral strings aad chains, were very costly, aud
had been lent By Moslem friend for the pur-
nose. Inc ornaments Of the welding dress nre
gsaesa!iy &C.. e'tt'e. & borrowed or hired. When all
With bFoal fringe of gold embroidery on It,
was bound orcF her head, one end banging down
n sguare, t, oyer hsr taee and entirely coccapg Il.
making very rich and brilliant appearance;
and over all large white muslin Teil was lung,
and adjusted over her arms. Thus bltnlsold.d
md bound, she aai like an idol statue 10 be
compliments exchanged.
"Nc then passed Into larger room where
the ceremony WA to be performed. The COptic
pAtriasclI, wl!o knew the bridegroom, ial ct,me
70 preside himself: lie aud two Of three a.
tendsut Priests III urge black tuFbans wcre a.
Que cp,l of the ro,sn. table. with lighted can.
dies, 10 tue midst; on the other sie, row Of
scarfs, and the men. whO were friends or
relatives, assembled rDl1nl. The women were
III au Inner room, but nc were allowed to re-
ulaiu wnetc the pr'esta werc conducting the sctv-
sas opposte the patriarch with brocndcl man.
tie tied orcF bis shoulders. Tho service was vcry
long; the greater part coneistcd Ut prayers 0r
psasMs cllanted In the cuptic language by. tue
prcscnt unless Il were the patriarch himself.
But was to observe that there was gooI tlcnl
of Scripture read, aud that oil Of L was In
A.. Arabic , s'ad consequently toul1 he followed BY
g. Johns Gospel was read BY prlrst and patt
triarcl!'s request, br, Iii. II: slakoor. !.
Inn sl sar'y a. i1r ol t. rsaainE and s'nt
attendant woman,. WHO was wrapped In tho red
shawl. She was placed Oh the dfvan beside the
bridegroom, and then n priest first threw M
81 the two,. 10 Us to t!lcter both together, aud
then PLACED two passcb4al gilt CROWNS IN their ),
hca1s. Then he held book over them, aud.
reaa nn c1hottatton In Arabic; inter whicfl he. :
laid 3 hand IN the head Of each, aud gently.
knockcd them together, which operation couid
not be performed without . general smile.
Then two rIngs wcrc produee1, tic bauis Join
e1 Under the brides yc, and the rings put on
by the priest. AL tlis time the pair aat NUTS
passlve-not II word spoken by either; aud litter
some tnorr prayers read In Arabic, aud soti.e
Cooue chanting: tlc whole "a. concluded, and
the brltc, still In her b!in5fosl condition. WAS
marched OF By ler attendants to the womcn's
rooIn to receive the visits Ut her female o.
Qunlntancc, while the husband went TIP to an1ute
the patriarch. Kissing small crueR lls held III
his hand, md in return having Ills bridal inautlo
unfastcncl hy thu great lna!l-
"Attrr oil WIS over, MIR. Shakoof nskel and
obtained permission for some Of the bridc's old
eehoo!-ftllowR ~ slug ono Of their hymns,
which tley did ycry ntcrly. it'd by their excellent
tcarher. Twas tic first tIme probably TINT the
patriarch had erer heard y gospel hymn lu his
own tongue; l4s expressed bis dslIxh. IL tho
"a1tncst terms, an! artually sent next day to
ask for lymu.book " taku for himself. And
here should mention that the patriarch las
thuHn himself uniformly most friendly to my
sisters hrl,uos. aud treats tho missionaries with
marked entrtcsy-fc ls aware OF their differ
tnrcs ot opinion, q co'':c but, IN spite Of all the
disadvantages Vt being brought up ih an unrc-
valuu fur aud lore ot the Word of Gotl On
unr Of lts iv,na1u acdluaintanres, tho mother VI
the school. telling him she waa learning to read,
lie cucuuFaced her to perscycrc, and promised
t!c should BE- sutllcfently ADVANCED to read It.
lle Is knnwu rs tln., Of remarkably liberal
views: We were glA1 to observe that during
tile Wlulc ceremony Of the marrfuKu no alluslon
w.as made 10 tile Virgin ur SHUTS, nuE w9s any
picture or Image presented Tor worship"