Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-06-14

most vigorously, very much after the
fashion of a distressed calf; but the
Mongols said it was all right, it was
part of the ceremony Still crying
and reluctant, she was dragged into
the tent, and there set aside in state.
Next morning all were astir early.
The proper hour for bride to start
depends on the year in which she was
born, and men skilled in such lore said
that this girl should have left home at
2 o'clock in the morning. When the
proper time falls at such an inconven-
lent hour, the difficulty is got over by
starting her, going a few yards, and
alighting in another tent, the journey
being commenced in earnest-resumed
they would say-at more suit
able time of day. In this case the cere-
mony of starting was not performed
at the proper hour, but deferred till
daylight. When all were mustered
and ready the old mandarin stumped
about impatiently, saying, repeatedly:
Why don't you start?" The truth
was that to have everything proper
all the women Of the place had to as
semble in the tent and weep over the
poor girl, who was now crying away
most energetically.
The proper amount of weeping
having been at length accomplished by
the fearful danes, a young man
obeyed the command of the father,
pushed aside the women, drew back
the curtain. took up the bride and
carried her along under his arm as
man would carry a bundle of grass,
taking care not to bump her head
ornaments on the Intel of the low
door, and by the help of two others
hoisted her into the saddle Of re-
markably quiet horse, which stood
ready to receiveher. In the hands of the
men the girl seemed a lifeless form, ana
but for her crying and the fact that she
covered her veiled face with her hands,
no one would have supposed that she
possessed the least command of her
limbs. She took no care to balance
herself or keep her seat all that she
lett to the attendants. Her part in the
performance was to cry, and cry she
did, in the same calf-like howl of yes
terday.
The horse was led step or two in
a direction determined also by the year
of her birth, and then the starting
was an accomplished fact. She was
taken down from the saddle and slowed
away in Peking cart, her mother got
in beside her, the mounted driver
called on his two lively horses, and the
whole party fell into the line of march,
while the crying of the disconsolate
girl became fainter and fainter in the
distance.
AS we turned to our own tent we
saw one truly sorry for the separation.
The elder sister of the bride stood
weeping at the door of her fathers
tent, following with fearful eyes the
cart and the riders till they disap-
peared over the hill. Her grief was
not mere affectation or compliance
with custom, but the natural express
sion of sisterly affection.
The bridal procession, as we after
ward heard, had long ride over hill
and dale, and finally drew up late in
the day before some tents, within sight
of which were feeding flocks of sheep.
herds of oxen, and droyes of horses.
indicating the wealth of the possessor,
and all judiciously displayed for the
sake of effect.
The door of the bridegroom's tent
was barricaded, and quite war of
words ensued, the strangers reproach-
fully asking, What sort of people
are you, to live with doors inhospitably
barricadedr" The besieged reproach-
fully asked, "What sort of brigands
are you, to come riding up to any
mans tent in that threatening man.
ner" The comers replied, eve have
brought so-and-so's daughter to be
so-and-so's BRIDE" "Oh, that alters
the case p answered the bridegroom's
friends, and after some more ado the
door was opened and the bride de-
livered over.
Feasting, drinking, singing, mirth |
and quarreling followed, and late next |
day the friends of the bride arrived
home, reporting all well, with
the exception of the slight indis-
position Of the bride. The wonder
would have been if she had not |
been indisposed after the excitement, |
rough travelling and vigorous crying |
through which she had gone, but the
Mongols accounted for it by saying |
that she started at 6 o'clock in place of |
2, and to cure her set a lama to read |
through the aImanac--quite home-
pathic remedy.
The wedding was now over, but the |
interchange Of friendly visits and hos
pitalities lasted long time. First the
father of the bride went to visit his |
son-in-law, custom requiring that he
should not accompany his daughter
when first she goes to her new home. |