The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-03-07
A RACE FOR A BRIDE.

THE ARRANGEMENT. START, WILD RID
ING, WON.
The following is very graphic and
pleasing account of wedding race
among the Huzarehs, and the devices
of the bride to be captured only by
the man that she loved:
The suitors of the maiden, nine in
number, appear in the field, all un-
armed, but mounted on the best
horses they can procure while the
bride herself, on beautiful Turko-
man stallion, surrounded by her rela-
tions, anxiously surveys the group of
lovers. The conditions of the race
were these: The maiden has cer-
tain start given, which she avails her.
self Of to gain q sufficient distance
from the crowd 10 enable her to man.
age her steed with freedom, 80 as to
assist the suitor whom she prefers.
On signal from the father all the
horsemen gallop after the fair one.
and whichever succeeds in encircling
her waist with his arm, no matter
whether disagreeable or to her choice,
is entitled TO claim her as his wife.
After the usual delays incident upon
such interesting occasions, the maid
en- quits the circle of her relations
ana putting her steed into gallop,
darts into the open plain. When sat-
isfied with her position, she turns
round to the impatient youths and
stretches out her arms toward them,
as if to WOO their approach. This is
the moment for giving the signal to
commence the chase, and each of the
impatient youths, dashing his pointed
heels into his courser's sides, darts
like the unhooded hawk in pursuit of
the fugitive dove. The savannah
was extensive, full twelve miles long
and three in width, and as the horse
men sped across the plain, the favor
ed lover became soon apparent by the
efforts Of the maiden to avoid oil 9TH
ers who might approach her. At
length, after nearly two hours racing,
the number of pursuers is reduced to
four, who are .altogether, and gradu-
ally gaining on the pursued; with
them is the favorite, but alas bis
horse suddenly fails in his speed, and
as she anxiously turns her head, she
perceives with dismay the hapless
condition of her lover; each of the
more fortunate leaders, eager with
anticipated triumph, bending his
head on his horses name, shouts at
the top of his voice: 81 come, my
Peri; l am your lover" But she,
making sudden turn, and lashing
her horse almost to fury, darts across
their path and makes for that part OF
the chummun plain, where her lover
was vainly endeavoring to goad on
his weary steed. 5 The three others in.
stantly checked their career, but in
the hurry to turn back two of the
horses are dashed furiously against
each other, 80 that both steeds and
riders roll over on the plain. She
laughed, for she we'll knew she could
clude the single horscman, and flew
to the point where her lover was.
But her only pursuer was rarely
mounted and not go easily shaken off,
making a last and desperate effort,
he dashed alongside the maiden, anu
stretching out his arm, almost won
the unwilling prize !; but she, bending
her head on her horses neck, eluded
his grasp and wheeled off again. Ere
the discomfitted horseman could again
approach her, her lovers arm was
around her waist, and amid the shouts
of the spectators they turned toward
the fort.
A Javan Sazerac.