Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-03
Marriage I'm Egypt.

When an Egyptian wants n wife he is
not allowed To visit the harems of
friends to select one, tor Mohammed
forbade men TO see the face ofany woman
they. could marry-that is to say, any
besides their mothers and sisters. A
man is. therefore, Obliged to employ n
"khatbeh," " or matchmaker, TO find one
for him, for which service, of course,
she expects backsheesh THAT is, pay
ment. The khatbeh, having found IA
girl, recommends her to the man as ex-
ceedingly beautiful and eminently s. it.
able to him. The father is then wa ed
upon TO ascertain the dowry he requires,
for all wives are purchased as they were
in patriarchal days. When Jacob had
no money to pay for Rachel, he served
her father for seven years rs an eduiy-
| alent; and when duped was obliged to
serve second time to secure his prize.
(Gen. xxix.) Fathers still refuse TO
give younger daughter in marriage
before an elder shall have been married.
The people Of Armenia, in Asiatic Tur-
key, forbid younger son to marry be-
fore an elder, and this is likewise the
law of the Hindoos.
The price of "A wife varies from five
shillings to 8 500. The girl may not
be more than five or six years old, but
whatever her age two-thirds of the
dowry is mt once paid TO her father ip
the presence of witnesses. The fathet
then, or his representative, saws: 81
betroth thee, my daughter" and the
| young man responds: u accent of such
betrothal." Unless among the lower
| glasses, the father expends the dover in
the purchase of dress, ornaments or
furniture for the bride, which never
become tho property of her husband.
Even when betrothed the intercourse of
the parties is very restricted. The
Arabs will not allow them TO see each
other, but the Jews are not quite so
stringent. The betrothals often con-
tinue for years before the man demands
his wife. Thus, "Samson went down
and talked TO the woman" or espoused
her, and after a time he returned to
take her." Girls are demanded at the
age of ten and between that and sixteen
years, but after sixteen few men will
seek them, and the dowry expected is
then proportionably low.
Girls in Egypt are often mothers at
thirteen and grandmothers at twenty
fix, and in Persia they are said TO be
mothers at eleven, grandmothcrs at
Iwenty-four, and past bearing at
thirty. When n man demqnds his be-
trothed day is fixed for the nuptials.
and for seven nights before he is ex-
pected TO give feast, which. however,
is furnished by the guests themselves
Thus. one sends coffee, another rice,
another sugar, etc. The principal time
of this continued feast is the night be-
fore the consummation. The conduct
is entrusted 10 the "friend Of the bride
groom. (John iii, 29.) About the mid
die of the day the bride arrives ut the
harem, where she sits with her mother.
sisters and female friends. At the third
or fourth watch of the night-three or
four hours after sunset-the bridegroom,
who has not yet seen his fair one, goes
TO the mosque to pray. accompanied by
meshalls," or torches and lanterns,
with music. Upon his return he is in :
troduced TO his bride. with whom. have
ing given her attendant present 10 re-
tire, he II left alone lie then throws
off her vail and for the first time sees
her face. II satisfied, lac informs the
women outside. who immediately ex-
press their joy by screaming "zug-
garrett" which Is echoed by the women
in the house, and then by those in the
neighborhood.