Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-04-02

When an Egyptian wants wife. no is not
allowed to visit the harems Of his friouds to
stltc: one, for Mohsmne forbade men to see
the face ct any woman they could mary, that
is to Sly. aLy besides their mothers or sisters.
a man is, therefore, obliged to employ "khat-
oeD, or ma:chuSker. to fod one for him. for
wtioh service, of cculse, she exptc.s back
shessh'-that is, payment. The khatbeth
havios fouud eiil, recommends her to the
man as exceedingly beautiful aud eminently
suitable 10 bin. Tho father is then waited up
on TO ascertain the dowry no requires; for all
wives are purchased IS they were in patrarchal
days When jacob had no money to pay for
Rachel llt served her i,ther seven years as an
equivalent; and. Whea duped, was obliged to
sIVe s'eHni lne TO st clre his plizs. Gen.
XIX Fathers still r5iuss to give youuger
daus shier in marriage before an elder shall have
been married. The people of Armenia, 10
AsiG'io Turkey, i0rhid younger son to marry
before an tlder, and his is likewise the law ot
The Hindoos.
The prics Of wife varies from Eve shiliugs
to fifteen huodred dollars. Tho girl may not
be more than or years DID, but, whatever
her age two-thirds of the dowry is at once paid
to tho father, in The presence Of witnesses. The
father then or his representative says: II be-
troth to lhso nv daughter" aud the young
maa responds, II ac,cpt of such bethrotaI. -
UacSs among the lower classes, the father eX-
pends the doTrg in tho purchase of dress, orna-
ments or iuFrluro ior tho bride, which never
btc)me the PR psrty Of her husband. Even
when bethrctheu, the Intercourse of the parties
is very restricted. The Arabs will not allow
them to SEQ each other; but the Jews arc not
qate so striOgncnt. The bethrothals often c,n-
uGue fjr years before the man demands bis
wife, thus: Samson went down ard talked
to the wcmap, or espoused her, nud latter a
timo, he returned TO take her," Girls are de-
manded at the ago Of tea and between that
and sixteen yesrs, but after sixteen few men
will seek them, and tho dowry expected is them
proporioDaby low.
Girls in Egypt are often mothers at l3 and
grandmothcrs at &c, and in Persia they are said
e,o be mothers o. l., graudmn,hers at %, and
past child bearing at 30. When q man de-
mands his botrothed day is fixed for the nup
tias, aud for seven nights before be is sexpeoted
70 glVo feast. which, however, is furnished by
tho guests themselves. Thus ono sends coffee,
another rca, another sugar otc. The principal
time cl this cJutnu(d least is tho night before
the coisammalion. Tho conduct is entrusted
tn the friend cf tho bridegroom" (John ill.,,
% A5ons the middle of this day tho bride
srnVts at Tho house aud retircs TO the hareu,
who're sho SITS With her mother, sisters and
f,nIalo friends At the third or fourth watch
Of tho ni2ht-hreo CT four hours after sunset-
the blid groom, who has not yet seen his fair
ohc. goes 20 he mosque to pray, accompanied
b. 'mHshals,' or torches aud lanttrns, with
muse. upnu his return he is intrc dacad to
his h!i1r. w'ih shDm having given her attend
ans rtcsHn: tn retire, he ia lcft oIone. He
then ikrops off her veil, snd for the first time
sccs her f-c". II sl,i>iied, ha informs the
women outside, VIII" iwmsdiatrly express their
ioy by screaming I!gcar.et." which is echoed
by tho women 10 the house and then hy those
10 the neghb0IhQod.