Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-03-26
A coPric
The Bridal Procession, Marriage Cers.
mOny and Wedding Supper,

$50 AOCCNhlOus TubTT1AKO C6E0s !
mony and Wedding supper.
I knew the little bride; a pretty
child, not aday over fifteen, with great,
dark eyes and dimpled cheeks, white.
even teeth, and rich, fair complexion.
She had often come in to spend an hour
with me in my home in Cairo, affordine
me much diversion by her childish,
artless ways and merry laughter. But
now she was to be married-this baby
girl. Her future husband had never
seen her face; for, according to the
custom of the people, the parents had
made all the arrangements, and the
contract usual in such ceremonies had
been drawn up by the fathers and
mothers and signed in the presence OF
a priest, without a word or suggestion
from the parties most concerned in the
transaction. The intended bridegroom
was a young clerk in the employ of an
English friend, a handsome, intelligent
boy, but with little experience of life. |
We had heard the wedding was to be a
grand affair, and were glad to accept
an invitation to this Egyptian cerc-
mony.
On the night of the marriage, the
bridal procession, or zeffeh, as it is
called, looked as if wrapped in flames
as it came slowly up the narrow street
in the midst of hundreds of colored
torches. A band was playing Arab
tunes, and women were ringing out the
Misunderstanding laugh Of joy
which is a kind of trill made with the
tongue and throat. The entire way
was lit with expensive fireworks of a
brilliant variety, and all the street
wraps worn were of gorgeous colors.
Our little friend marched in this slow
procession, her features concealed, as
usual; that is, she was wrapped in a
cashmere shawl. not covered by q
canopy. as in Arab weddings, although
in many respects the Coptic ceremony
is similar to that of the Moslems. She
wore a white silk gown embroidered
with gold, and over this a long flowing
robe of lace, while masses of diamonds
fastened the white face-veil to her tur-
ban. Just before her walked two little
boys carrying censers, the smoke of
which must have poured directly into
face as she walked slowly on, enveloped
in her cashmere wrappings. On either
side and a little in advance of the bride
were the male relatives and friends,
while behind her, continually trilling
the zaghareet, followed the female
friends; and along the whole procession
two boys ran back and forth, bearing
silver TASKS of pomegranate form filled
with perfume which they jetted in the
| faces of the guests in a most delicious
spray.
The house of the bridcgroom's fathe,
where the marriage was to. take place
is situated in a narrow street off tho
Mooski, and as we reached the entrance
we were met by black slaves, who
handed us each a lighted taper. The1
a sheep was killed on the door-stone-
a custom, l believe, observed only il
Cairo and some of the larger cities o
Egypt. The bride, glittering with he.
diamonds and gorgeous costume, wa
carried over it and then the whole pro
ccssion walking ovcr the blood-th'
body having been removed-all of u
bearing our lights-went in to the mar
riage, and the door was shut. Does
not remind you of the parable of tn
ten virgins of old?
We were conducted to a room YER,
lofty and spacious. A low dival
reached around it and constituted it
sole furniture, excepting the table OF
which was spread the marriage supper
At this supper [ witnessed a custom
which reminded me of an old Roman
story. A slave brought in two snga
globes on separate dishes. Whe1
these were placed upon the table
one of the guests was invited to opel
them. Immediately upon one havin!
been broken, out flew a lovely whit
dove, its neck encircled with tiny bell
which rang mcrrily as it flew about
The other dove did not at first fly
when liberated from its sugar cage
but one of the guests lifted it up unit
it suffered away like the other. !
either OF these doves should not fly
these superstitious people would draw
from it an evil omen. Many Aral
dishes were set before us, among then
boned fowl stuffed with ~raisins, pts
tachio nuts, bread and parsley; sweet
and melons following. But rs an Ara!
eats. with remarkable rapidity, on
course was hardly brought before an
other took its place.
We were soon ready to accompan..
our host to the room where the MAJ
riage ceremony was to be performed
into which VIC were ushered in tn
midst of Arab music, sounding Gym
balls, smoking-incense and zaghareet
and the unintelligible mutterings O
many priests. The bridegroom, cla'
in an immense white silk cloak EN-
broidercd with silk and gold, sat wait
ing in one of two palatial-lookin
chairs. In the midst of Il perfect storm
of music and confusion q door opened
and the bride, her face still yelled, en-
tered and took the chair beside tn
bridegroom. There we're four priest
to oficiate in this novel marriage, thre'
of whom were blind; these murmure!
Coptic prayers and filled the air witt
incense, while the priests whose eye
we're perfect tied the nuptial knot b.
binding the waiting couple to each 9th
cr with several yards Of tape, knocking
their heads together, and at last placin!
his hands in benediction on their fore
heads and giving them a final blessing
This cOnclnGad the cercmOny.-W Wa