, 1880-11-12
Marriage in Egypt,

The ceremony petholulcu "C "A SJf
t;on wedding is graphically pictured by
y correspondent Of the London Globe,
,rSo writes: We were invited for sun
set and accordingly made our appear
o onoe at the brides palace in lsmalia, as
the thousand-colored lamps with which
tho % streets in the neighborhood of the
house had been decorated were being
i;rbtod The effect was striking and
elegant, for the delicate carved windows
and portrairs, and the plentiful show of
rad and green flags, trimmed with gold
t;nsel, stood out in hundred different
shades of color. Guests were arriving
Fast some in rumbling harem carriages,
come on muleback, some on foot, and
many brought batch of female slaves
% escort, to give themselves dignity
withsl. Needless to say shat eunuchs
abounded; indeed, we were all women
and eunuchs, but not man to be seen.
A military band was stationed before
the gates, and awoke the echoes with
their barbaric strains, which appeared to
have no little effect on the carriage
horses and mules, for they pranced and
reared in terrible fashion.
The noisy, hlghly-scented and many
colored throng pressed into the colon
made court and swept up the broadstair-
case leading to the first floor. My COM
panion and myself being the "Frahgis"
lEuropeans) present, excited no little
remark among the guests, who, by the
bv, had by this time thrown back their
wells.
Kindly looks, however, met Us on all
sides, and furtive glances, in which the
inuate politeness of the oriental strug-
cled with feminine curiosity. What
variety of features were here to be seen!
The delicate, thin.nosed, pale Circassian,
the chocolate Egyptian, with the same
distinctive type we find portrayed on
tombs of forty centuries past, the coal
black Nubian, with gigantic lips and re-
ceding forehead. At such fantasia "
as this all are equal, the naughty 'gem of
the harem" being treated j"st the same
as the lowest Of ''darkies," neither bet
ter nor worse, so that the company lost
no time in discussing precedents before
sitting down to the dozen of little tables
which stood in readiness for the mar
riage guests
These tables were carved brass trays,
yard or so across, and supported about
eighteen inches from the ground on short
legs. Six or eight women squatted in
discriminatory around each table, the
feast consisting OF one hundred illnesses" "
The company numbered about eight hun
dred "Daughters of Eve" Pilaffs OF
mutton and rice, with more than dash
Of garlic, sweet cakes of maize flour
and crushed dates, salt fish and dried
fruit, formed the "pieces de resistance,
and these were all eaten withthe fingers.
We were supplied with knife and fork
as Europeans, but scorued to make use
Of such absurd aids to eating, and tished
for tit-bts like our messmates. The
eunuchs were incessant in their atten-
tons, fitting about with finger glasses
and food, and grinning good naturedly
the while. The best thing tasted was
sweetmeat composed Of camels milk,
honey, rice, burnt almonds and plums,
while thirst was slaked with rather
nasty sherbet and orange water. Cham,
pagne would have been preferable.
The fact and color soon became op-
pressive, and it was with feeling of
relief We welcomed slave that came to
fetch us to the private room of the bride
a mark Of exceptional favor. We
found the heroine Of the day ready
dressed and about to proceed to the
throne room" the apartment, that is,
where she shows herself in public. She
really was a pretty girl, rather tall, not
too fat (the usual defect of the harem
women), most delightful figure, abund-
ant dark brown hair, with touch of
red in it "a most unusual thing in
Egypt, and very small ears-altogether
very "love,awakening daughter" as
an Arab would say. The color of the
eyes | could not see, for it is in Egypt
"good form" for the bride to appear
overwhelmed with confusion and shy
ne8s'at her terrible (D position. The
eyes must on no account be lifted from
the ground. She is led about by her
nurse, functionary by the by, who
plays prominent part at the wedding,
and one whom it is the fancee's interest
to "tip" literally, aud two other attend
ants, while couple of slaves fan her
continually to cool the burning bushes
which are supposed TO mantle her maid
en- cheek, Selika, for that was her
prettv name uas nttirnl in tha nsI1nl