Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-04-13
Marriage in Egypt.

When an Egyptian wants a wife, he
is not allowed to visit the harems of his
friends to select one, for Mahammed for
bade men to see the face Of any woman
they could marry. that is to say, any
besides their mothers or sisters. A man
is therefor, obliged to employ "khat-
beh," or matchmaker, to fine one for
him, for which service, of course, abe
expects Observation-Disclosures is, pay
ment. The khatbeh having found a
girl, recommends her to the man as ex-
ceedingly beautiful and eminently sui
table to him. The father is then wait
ed upon to ascertain the dowry :he re-
quires; for all wives are purchased as
they were in patriarchal 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 second time to secure
his prize. (Gen. xxx J Father still re-
fuse to give younger daughter in mar
riage before an elder shall have been
married The people of Armenia, in
Asiatic Turkey, forbid q younger son to
marry before an elder, and this is like
wise the law of the Hindoos.
The price of wife varies from five
shilIings to fifteen hundred dollars. The
girl may not be more than or 6 years
old, but, whatever her age two thirds
of the dowry is at once paid to the faith
er, in the presence Of witnesses. The
father thsn or his representative says
II betroth to thee my daughter" and
the young man repOnds, II accept of
such betrothal. ."-Unless among the
lower classes, the father expends the
dowry in the purchase of dress, orna-
ments or furniture for the bride, which
never become the property of her hus-
band. Even when bethrothed, the in
tercourse of the parties Is very restrict
ed. The Arabs will not allow them to
see each other; but the Jews are not
quite SO stringent. The bethrothals of
ten continue for years before the man
went down and talked to the woman,
or espoused her. and "after time, he
returned to take her." Girls are de.
that and sixteen years, but after sixteen
few men will seek them, and the dowry
ex pected is then roportionably low.
Girls in Egypt are often mothers at
13 and grandnIOthers at &c. and in Per-
sia they are said to be mothers at II,
grandmothers at %. and past child bear
ing at 30 When a man demands his
betrothed 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 consummatiop. The conduct
is entrusted to the ''friend of the BRIDE
groom" John iii, 29l 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 night-three or four
hours after rsunset-lhe bridegroom, who
has not yet seen his fair one, goes to the
mosque to pray, accompanied by "me-
shals." or torches and lanterns, with
music. Upon his return he is introduce
ed to his bride, with whom, having CIV
en- her attendant 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 out
side, who Immediately express their JOY
by screaming "Zuggareet," which is
echoed by the women in the house and
then by those III the nelghhoFhood.
The srear" of q horse is in front.