The Dawson journal., 1884-01-24
fFrnm the IeWiston (NIe. y Jonrnal.l


died since the Maine colony came to
Jaffa. Willie escorts us to the suburbs
among some low, stone houses, with fiat
masonry roofs, supported by heavy stone
arches-mere cells. There are number
less dogs under foot and hot sun over
head, against whose rays we protect
ourselves with umbrellas. We enter
low doorway and see an elderly woman
sitting in Yankee rocking chair, in a
cool, stone apartment, with a stone floor.
"Here are Mr.. and Mrs. -, from
Maine, mother"
"Bless your dear souls | Take off
your bonnet; I'm awful glad to see ye
Never had a cali before from Maine
visitors. We'se down casters, you know
from Jonesport, Maine. But jll-luck
has betided us ever since, many years
ago, the Maine colony came to Jaffa.
You remember after we came we had a
tent on the beach in the heat; then the
Arabs cheated us most numerically;
then we began to cheat one another
there were goats among the sheep.
Strong drink did our people much mis-
chief. But then it was a noble idea to
restore Canaan to Gods people. 1 try
to live here like Christian. l tell my
Arab neighbors not to steal. teach
them good morals and cleanliness; and
now / go away and leave my doors un-
locked; but nothing is ever touched in
my house; I live among the Moslems
and like em-they're kind and hospi-
table-better behaved than many who
call themselves Christians in Jaffa."
There are many manners and customs
in the east of to-day suggestive to the
Oriental customs in the Bible times. Let
us hear Mrs. Alleys account of one Of
them
"My neighbor made a contract of
marriage for twenty napoleons four
months ago. Since then he has given
as much as four more in presents to the
mother of his intended bride to keep
them to their bargain. That is the Gus
tom here among the Moslems, and the
Christians are not much better. Last
month he wished to get married. He is
a poor man, and did not have much
money by him, but he paid down, before
witnesses, fifteen napoleons, and her
father told him he should have his bride
the next week. The poor man went to
Jerusalem to buy the candles to illumi-
nate his bride when he took her home.
Meantime comes the brides mother to
our place and stands under my window.
1 ask her to come in. She thanks me,
but will not. Neither will she sit down
until after great persuasion. Then
comes the bridegroom's mother. what
is it the brides mother asks?' Your
son thinks to marry my daughter. Does
he think I am nobody? or Am I aslave
to his father, and similar expressions.
The bridegroom's mother all this time is
saying: 'Oh you are the blessing to
my house, have no other blessing but
you on earth. She says this to avert
the evil eye from her son.. The other
continues to say that the marriage shall
only take place at the time and place
that she the brides mother shall say,
and that her girl is too young to marry.
/ say, You ought to have thought of
that before We talk her down to tears,
and then she sits down, talks the matter
over and goes away, the other still re-
peating, L have no blessing, only from
you
CATER two or three days, the young
man comes from Jerusalem, bringing
candles; two as tall as man, and two
fat, short and wide, called hands, for
the bride to take in her hands when she
comes out on the night of her marriage.
Now the young man begins to rave and
say they may take their girl, he won't
have her. is there no other in Jaffa
but her?' NO, he won't have any one
that troubles his mother This he says
to make all right with his mother. Then
he goes to the brides mother and car
ries her something nice to eat to make
her pleased with him, but he cannot see
the bride until they are married, as it is
not considered proper with the Moslems
to speak with girl before her marriage.
The poor man is now waiting impatiently
until such time as they are well satisfied
to say take her. Then he will pay the
other five napoleons $50 and call in the
neighbors to make merry with him.
Some will bring drums, others the ShiL.
bod6ee, or shepherds pipe, to make
music as they dance, sing, and clap
their hands, the women by themselves,
and the men apart from them, in an
other room or on the house-top. They
keep this up three days.
son the afternoon of the third day
the friends of the bridegroom Tnow ht
will have many, take him to the bath
and he must pay all the bills for them
From there they take him to the mosque
TO pray. By this time it is s o'clock il
the evening, and they take him, a MAJ
to each arm, and lead him backward
with his eyes shut. He must walk tina
way home, - matter how long the tim
or the road is. fhe longer the time tn
better it will bc Tor them to prepare tn
bride.
''On the third morning the bride i
taken to the bath from there she
taken to the place where she is to b
given to her husband. When there
they paint her feet, hands, and othe
parts of her body, and dress her in seve,
different dresses, one after the other, t