The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-01-31
TEMPORARY MARRIAGES
PERSIAN COUPLES That CONTRACT MAT
RIMoNY FOR SPECIFIED TINE.

A writer in The Philadelphia North
American describes one marriage custom
among the Persians which would hardly
meet with favor in this country. A Per
sian couple may enter into honorable
Dlatrlmony for any specified time-a day
q week month, six months, or longer.
Il priest and written contract are re-
quired as in the usual form, and dowry
aud present bestowed. Whether the
transaction is entered upon for matter
of days or years,at its termination each
Que goes their way free of all further OBJ
legations toward each other.
This form of marriage is indulged in
largely by travellers and men whose voca-
tions take them from place to place. A
mixed party of travelers-men, women
aud ch:ldren-arrive at village. The
susceptible heart of one of the gentlemen
is touched by the charms of some rustic
belle. The village priest is summond
forthwith, and the young lady's father
invited to the caravansarai.
81 wish to be united in matrimony to
your honored daughter, the light of Mo-
hammed, oh, my father" says the smit.
ten traveller "Iushalah."
"BismilIah!" returns the parent, 'for
how long?"
"For three weeks, oh, my father, ".says
the traveller, 'and / will make the settle
ment ten tomans-five tomans down and
five upon our return from Meshed, the
holy, three weeks hence, when your
daughter shall be returned, thrice bless
cd from having made with us pilgrim
age to Inman Riza's sanctuary"
stWhotf fQn -nnnh y,nnh Ip
screams the father derisively, and MAX
ing little of the advantages of the pill
grimaqe to Meshed. "My daughter is q
jewel and the belle of the village. The
settlement must be 100 tomans cash
down."
The prospective bridegroom and the
father of the young lady in the case now
argue and sqnabble for probably an hour
al the end of which time they compro-
mise on thirty tomans and three-quartefs.
The priest draws up marriage contract
then and there, which the groom and the
brides parents sign. In it is stated the
exact terms of marriage, the amount of
the settlement and the time the contract
is to expire. The priest is fed, the set
tlement money paid over to the father
and the blushing bride, who had nothing
to say in the matter whatever, is handed
over to her husband. She is mounted
on an asa or bundled into keiaveh and
accompanies the party to Meshed.
Three weeks later the travellers halt at
the same village on their return. The
bride of three weeks slides off her
donkey kisses her husbands hands and
returns to her parents roof. She is now
q charming young widow, and possesses
thirty tomans and three-quarters, besides
al extra toman or two presented by her
husband at parting if he has been pleas
Ell with her conduct as a spouse. With
this snug sum, and the additional charms
of her new condition, she of course very
soon makes mincemeat OF some worthy
young peasants heart and settlesi down
for life. It sometimes happens, however
that the young bride takes advantage OF
the temporary marriage to steal away
her husbands heart, and then at the old
home new marriage contract is drawn
UP and she becomes his lifelong help
meet.