The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-08
AMONG THE ABYSSINIANS.
Their Civil and Religious Mar
riage Rites.
Curious superstitions Which Prevail
Among the People

Romance is rare in Abyssinia, writes
0. A. Bierstadt. When a girl has
reached the discreet age of 8 or 9 she
Is considered to be in the matrimonial
market. If she owns a few cattle or
some other desirable property, a boy
with half her wealth generally propos-
es to her father for her, and a bargain
is driven over her quite as if she had
no more sentiment in her than a COW,
which doubtless is often the case. The
Engagement last usually three or four
months. Though the groom often sees
his prospective father in-law, he never
lays eyes upon the bride unless he can
bribe some female friend to allow him
4 stolen glance. The bride-to-be may
previously have romped with her in
tended for years, but she would run
screaming away if he were now to ap7
pear before her.
AS the wedding-day dra WIS near, the
girl is washed, an event 80 rare as to
call for special note, in a pond where a
certain saints day is celebrated for
being the epoch Of the sole annual
absolution of most of the inhabitants
and a dass or bower of green branches
over a frame of stakes is erected. In
this a great feast is given on the day
before the marriage. All the hungry
idlers round about strive by hook or
crook to get in, and, squatting down
on the ground. they gorge themselves
with the quivering raw meat of the
COW that has just been killed, and
with other Abyssinian delicacies. The
distinguished guests bless the bride.
putting their hands upon her head
and getting them we'll CREASED for
their pains.
Meanwhile a similar feast is given
In the groom's abode, and next morn
ing he starts out with his friends, and
from six to twelve arkees or brides
men. They rig themselves up in all
the plumage they can possibly borrow
and, on approaching the brides house,
fire their guns and have a sort Of !
sham fight with a view. perhaps to al
lay the groom's nervousness. When
the happy man has taken the seat of
honor in the bridal bower his bride is
brought in. wrapped up in a cloth al
most like a mummy, and placed upon
a stool. Then the groom is asked
whether he wishes to marry the wom-
an before him; they crook their fingers
together under the cloth, or, perhaps,
KISS q another, and, after any priest
Or elder present has given some sage
advice. the marriage settlement of
what each is to bring is finally entered
upon, the last, but not the least lmpor-
tant, part of. the ceremony.
Such are the civil marriages lightly
entered into and as lightly broken.
IN the shortest notice and for the
slightest aus a couple will seperate.
the property being usually divided, the
men taking the boys, the woman the
girls Church marriages are more
rare and are regarded as i%ndissoluble:
once husband and wife have partaken
OF the holy sacrament together they
are united until death.
Women often call each other such
names as "my heart" my mirror"
my enchantment." and men. address
women as "soft lips" 'pretty friend"
"man-slayer." There seems to be- q
desire to conceal the real names. and
this is due to singular superstition.
The Abyssinians, believe, as did the
ancient Jews, that the devil often
takes possession of individuals. Curl
ously enough, blacksmiths are regard
Cd with peculiar awe; they are SUD-
posed on occasions to change them.
selves into hyenas; moreover. as a sort
OF devil they enter into any human be-
ing whose true name they can discov-
CT and play all manner Of antics, hence
1t Is desirable to remain ANONYMOUS.
The devil possessing a person is usual
~ called Bouda, and he does such an
extensive bushes that many people
have found it worth while to claim
the power Of exercising him.
Generally women are the ones to be
cursed with the Bouda, and any tray
eler in Abyssinia will have.some such
story as the following to relate: One
OF his female servants-neyer does a
man make q ionrney in tha courtrv