Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-04-17

The akd, or marriage contract, IS
simply legal form; but it is mar
risge AID not be;rothal. A few
friends are invited; the bride - per-
haps q child OF ten is seated in 3
room with her parents and relations;
over the door hangs the usual curtain
Or, if the ceremony takes place
IN one room or the open air, the
women are all yelled. At the other
end OF the curtain, in an outer room
or Ia the open air, are the male guests;
and here sGuats the moollah or priest
of the quarter, who row drones out
IL HOMOGENEOUS voice the marriage
contract, which has been previously
drawn cut By him 1T is agreed be-
tween Hassan the draper, who Is wax
eel agent for Houssein, the son of
the baker, that he, Housseip, hereby
Acknowledges the receipt OF the por>
ton Nissa. the daughter of Achmet
the grocer" Here follows the list OF
the property of the bride In lands,
moneys, houses, cattle, dresses, fur
nlture, carpets, pots, pans, aud SO en-
Always q copy of the Koran and
certain weight OF sewing silk are men
toned. This detailed account OF her
property, constituting the woman's
separate estate. her husband merely
holds in trust durRg their cohabita
ton. At death or divorce it goes
back again TO herself or her heirs.
And it Is this mehr or separate
estate that renders secure the ether
wise precarious position or the East
ern wife in polygamous country, for
the various things enumerated though
acknowledged by the husband as re
ceived, many only exist on paper
Still he has acknowledged them, aud
if he wish 10 put away his wife or if
they separate by consent, he IS bound
TO refund the meLT Of which he has
legally acknowledged the receipt or
to obtain her legal discharge for the
same. And, continues the moollah.
''he Acknowledges the receipt OF the
aforesaid mehr" Then follows a
hum of delight at the extent of the
lady's property. You, Hassan, how
do you say as vakeel for Houssein-ls
this SOL" Yes, | agree mumbles
Hassan. "And you, Achmet, do you
give your daughter, Lady Nissa, TO be
tlAC WIZ Sl l1Sio 11OuSSSId3 CSs
yes, l agree" replies Achmet the
grocer, ''And you, Lady Nissa, are
you there2" Yes, yes, she is here,
Moollah, " replies chorus o. women
from behind the curtaiR. And you
agree, Lady Ni.sa2" Here there is a
giggle from the child bride. Eyes,
yes, she agrees" comes LII : triumph
ant chorus from the women. Then"
says the moollah, solemnly, Sin the
name of God, the compassionate, the
merciful, and of Mohammed, tie,
prophet of God, DECLARE You, Lord
Houssein. and you. lad u Nissa, to be-
man and wife, Heea thssen0fiahl
PUTS has atalap or selsh 10 the dscu-
q4enss the Fariosss aarties seal il, too,
It's carefully witnessed aud formally
completed. The moollah receives his
fee of few shillings aud then, and
not ill then, he hands over the accu-
nent-her settlement and marriage
lines" in one-to the agent of the
bride or to her father.
The legal ceremony is over; the
young people are married fast, fast as
the Mohammedan law can bind. And,
thSSlSGiNaA4y, q y Gu GLiSJ NAYS LIZ ~
seen each others faces. But really
Haussein has had many glimpse of
the fair Nissa; her mother has often
allowed him to see her child from be-
hind a curtain OF a cupboard door.
Ali this is understood. And the
young people are now legally married.
The wedding, distinct from the
espousals, may take place the same
evening. ia week, month, or not
for years. according to the age, rank
or circumstances Of the bride and
bridegroom. Men and womea feast
separately; and after many water
pipes have been smoked, many pounds
of sweet-meats consumed and q pIerii
full banquet has bee'4 =. s.osed of the
guests separate. All promise 10 be
present at the actual wedding, No
music, no lejoicings n5thlng but
what we have described is seen at the
ceremony we have detailed. The
actual wedding is a scene of joy and
merriment curious IL the extreme.