Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-05

maiden-encumbered only with a
waist .band-ere the word is given for
the would.be possessor to go In pur.
suit, in the hope Of over.tsking her
before che has thrice comprised the
circle; that achieved, she hiss no
choice but to take the suitor for her
lord. In the water chase the damsel
takes her paddle until abe has obtain
cd a reasonable start, when her I'D.
mlrer sets off after her. The contest
is usually one of short endurance, the
pair having come to a proper under
standing beforehand; out should the
girl have no fancy for the sutton, aud
posses sufficient determination aud
strength Of arm to gain the goal first,
she Ia at liberty TO laugh at the dis.
consulate loser OF the match, aud re-.
serve herself for a claimant more to
her liking.
Bride. chasing is generally a trial of
horsemanship. In this shape it is
practiced by most of the nomadic
tribes Of Central Asia. Captain
Burnay tells us that when II has to be
decided how a Torcomsn belle is to be
settled In life ''the whole tribe turns
out, and the young lady, being al.
lowed the choice of horses, g~sllops
away from her suitors. They follow
her. She avoids those she dislikes,
and seeks to throw herself In the way
of the object of her affections. The
moment she is caught she becomes the
wife of her capsor. Farther cere.
monies are dispensed with, and he
takes her to his tent" In some
tribes the girl is burdened
with the CARCASS of goat
or lamb, which must be snatched from
her lap. The Hazsrehs mark out u
course some twelve miles long aud
three wide. As soon rs the maiden
has got far enough from the crowd to
be able to guide her steed with perfect
freedom, she turns around, stretches
out her hands to the waiting horse.
men, and her father gives them the
signal to 60 in pursuit. The chase is
sometimes q long.lasting one. A
traveller records one In which, after
two hours' ~galloping, the field of nine
had dwlpdled to four. Racing neck
and neck together the riders grad.
ually gained on the quarry, each
shouting In turn: Il come,. my
Perl! I am your lover!" One Of the
horses suddenly faltered ia his stride,
and the dismayed girl cav that the
man of her heart was out of the hunt.
Making a quick turn, she darted right
across the path of the exultant three
and made at full speed for her lover.
The bsfled suitors checked thei,
h~eadlong career with one accord, bu'
coming into collision, two of then
rolled over on the plain; and, eluding
the remaining detrimentai's grasy
with q triumphant laugh, the nader
reached her lovers side. In a momen
his arm was around her waist, and sht
was his own.
Among the Kalmucks the brid,
race Is reduced to q match, and DR.
Clarke AYERS that the girls are sucl
good horsewomen that for one to b,
caught against her will was a thin;
unknown. Kalmucks OF high degree
however, do not run their brides
down; they bargain for them, and tn,
bargain concluded the bridegroom anc
the chief men of his horde ride to tn,
camp of the brides people, who feigr
opposition to the match, and only sur
render the lady after a mock conflict
Sometimes the conflict Is real enough
II a kslmuck swain cannot find th'
wherewithal to satisfy the demands Of
his lady loves parents, or is for an!
other reason obnoxious to them, h,
%enlists the aid of his kinslnen, who a
the earliest chance swoop down on tn
adverse camp, and, providing they d,
net get the worst of the fight, carr
the prize of their valor to the expect
ant lovers arms.
In Circassia the carrying off of tn
bride is a prearranged affair, the bride
groom and his followers rushing Int
the brides house while the Wedding
revelries are at their height there, ano
bearing the unreluctsnt damsei OF
with them. Against such sn irrup
ton the Indian Mussulmsn provide
by closing the entrances to he lazy
abode, and setting a guard before 1
to receive the expected "'aaii"h'o
"Who are you wbo a. o'a''uo
the kings oava'f-o u'Hnsn.s .le
leader OF 10 "~iie'seehil
.sTher, are thieves abroad at night
yossibly we behold Them" is the re-.
ply. A long interchange Of oompli
mentary badinage ensues, terminating
In al attempt to break through the
ranks of the brides defendsrr. Fail.
ing in this, the bridegroom pays down
. certain sum of money and the gates
are flung open. There Is a second
contest of strength within the gates,
ending, as q matter of coure, in Civ.
ing up of the maiden and he depart
ure with the victorious party.
The Khords have turned marriage
by capture frora comedy mo farce.
Riding one night among the hills, an
Epglish officer heard loud CRIBS, seem.
iagly proceeding from a viiAge hard
by. Making for the spot, h saw a
NTH cs~rryingiupon his back stmething
enveloped In scarlet cloth. He war
surrounded by twenty or thirty young
fellows, who had all their wok to dc
! to protect him from the desptate as.
saults Of number of girls. lie msu
had Just been married, aud vas con
veying his blooming bride hone; and
, not until he was within the boun.
daries of his own cottage did Is fair
pursuers cease hurting stones a him,
as he and they ran their hardes,
i, The mock. battle forms psSs~of h
. marriage ceremonies of he Rookie
s dwelling on the northe3s| frontiers G
' India; but with thse Fne brides pig.
has the best. sssS bout. After IN
purchasaps 81 agreed upon hss hgF'
paj sIsh?t the friends Of tbo bride
o. % essay TO fetch his brgain, Az
l.at Ill xL..-l-1 r. 40. .,.a, al