Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-25
Marriage in Egypt.

When an Egyptian wants . wife be
is not allowed to visit the hsrems of bis
friends to select one, for NOLAN med
forbade men to see the face of any
woman they could msrry-that is to
say, any besides their mothers or sis
tiers. A man is. therefore, obliged TO
employ "khatbeh," or matchmaker.
to find Que for him, for which service,
ct course, she expects backshoesh -
that is, payment. The khatbeh, having
found girl, recommends her to the
mar as exceedingly beautiful and emil
nently suitable to him. The father is
then waited upon to ascertain the dow
ry he requires, for all wives are pur-
chased as they were IN the patriarc hal
days. When Jacob had no money to
pay for Rachel he served her father
seven years as an equivalent; and, when
duped, was obliged to serve q second
time to secure his prize. (Gen.. xxx.
Fathers still refuse to give younger
daughter in marriage before an elder
shall have been married. The people
OF Armenia, in Asiatic Turkey, forbid
younger son t. marry before an ell.
Ger. and this is likewise the law of the
Hindoos.
The price of a wife varies from five
shiilings to $3.50. The girl may not
be more than five or six years old, but,
whatever her age, two-thirds of the
dowry is at once paid to her father, in
the presence of witnesses. The father
then, or his representative, says: ~
betroth to thee my daug and the
young man responds, ~ accept of
such betrothal." Unless among the
lower classes, tho father expends the
dover IN the purchase of dress, orna-
ments, or furniture for the bride, which
never become the property of her hus-
band. Even when betrothed. the inter-
course 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 latter 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, AMI the dowry expected is
then proportionably low.
Girls in Egypt are often mothers at
thirteen and grandmothers at twenty
six, and III Persia they are said to be
mothers at eleven. grandmothers at
twenty -four, aud past collaborating at
thirty. When man demands his be-
trothed, a 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 contamination. The conduct
is intrusted to the friend of the bride
groom" (John iii, 29.) About the
middle OF this day the bride arrives at
the house and retires to the harem,
where she sits with her mother, sisters,
and female friends. At the third or
fourth watch of the nighttime or
four hours after sunset-the bride
groom, who has not yet seen his fair
one, goes to the mosque to pray, &C.
by meshals," or torches
and lanterns, with music. Upon his
return lie is introduced to his bride,
with whom, having given her attendant
a present to retire, he is left alone.
He then throws off her veil and for the
first time sees her face. If satisfied,
he informs the women outside, who
express their Joy by
screaming Zuggareet," which is
echoed by the women in the house, and
then by those in the neighborhood.