Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14


An American student, assisting DR.. McKin-
non, the physician in charge of the Scottish
mission dispensaries in Damascus and Biudan.
a small town four hours horseback ride from
the former, thus describes in q private letter
an interesting wedding ceremony, which oc-
Cured in Bludan in July:
For week past this little town Of Bludan
has been in q state of tremendous festal ex-
element, growing out Of the marriage of a
brother OF the sheik or governor of the village,
to charming widow Of Damascus, As you
may not be aware Bludan is a little
Syrian town with q population of about
800 people. very poor, as We in America reckon
poverty, and they live mostly in one-story. fiat
rooted mud and stone houses, with furni-
ture and interior decorations to match.
These houses are usually of two rooms,
one for cooking and eating and the
other for sleeping. There is not a glazed
window In the town proper. A few English
missionaries houses on the hills near are much
more comfortable and commodious, however.
CELEBRATION OF A WEIR.
The wedding took place on Thursday, and
the festivities began on the Monday previous,
and consisted in the sending of presents, in
Gliding rugs. crockery. fatted calf, lambs,
jewelry and all sorts of useful articles from the
friends Of the high contracting parties. Money
was also given, Dr.. McKinnon and l contribut-
ing dollar each. One popularity of this pres
ent giving is that list is kept of each present
with the name OF the donor. and when any of
the donors marry the exact amount or article is
given them on their wedding day. So expect
some day to get my dollar again.
On Tuesday the bride, widow considered
rich because she was the fortunate possessor of
q sum equal to s240 Of our money, a supply of
clothing and few articles of household furni-
m fpnv I'm I'M ,,talh NV
party of her relatives and friends As said
before, the groom was brother of the sheik, a
native OF Bludan, an important parsonage. and
1t was good form according to Syrian society
for the bride to come to the groom. The
brides party was met at a spring about four
miles from Bludan by number Of the srooms
relatives and friends. was out gazelle hunt
ing with DR.. McKinnon that day and happened
to be at the spring when the two parties met
There was a great display of kissing and
Handwriting, and after short rest the entire
party on donkeys and cames proceeded
into the town. The bride went at once
to the house Of some OF her relatives, where
she remained until the wedding day. That
night the whole town went into the committee
OF the whole on the state of the union. as you
say in legislative circles, and there was feast
ing, dancing, music, calling, bonfres and
general Fourth of July time until q late hour.
The next morning it was resumed with the ad-
ditlon of presents from neighboring villages OF
who took part in the feasting and joined the
festive thiong in all the other advertisements.
GIVING THE GROOM BATH.
This thing was kept up all Wednesday,
Wednesday evening and until o'clock Thurs
day. an hour before the wedding. At this hour
6 o'clock) great crowd of men and women
collected about the groom's house and about
hundred men took the groom out into an adj
joining yard. where a committee of three pro-
ceeded to give the happy man bath. The
men formed a circle and in the center of it the
committee Invested the groom Of every stitch
Of clothing and scrubbed him thoroughly from
head to foot. During this bath the yelling
and shouting and hurrahing of the crowd
was understandable. Beyond the immediate
crowd of men nearly tie whole town
had gathered. with many curious women
on the house tops trying to get
peep over the heads Of the people in the yard
Everybody was in the best of humor, and not
withstanding the groom had not had an entire
bath before for ten years he also seemed to en-
Joy it with the others. When he had been
properly washed down the committee dressed
gold-trimmed vest, a mantle, turban and
sandals of russell leather. His clothes were not
the cleanest white imaginable, but they were as
white as anybody's else, so he was saved from
criticism.
After he was dressed he was taken to his own
house, where he sat down to a sumptuous re-
past Of lamb and rice served with lebon "a ma
tive dish) and unieavened bread in large thin
cakes.
The lamb and rice were in large wooden
bowl, which was placed in the center of ham,
mered brass circular tray large enough for a
dozen people to sit around. On this tray,
which was about a foot above the floor. the
bread and lebon were placed and the guests
seated about on stools six inches high. broke
the bread and with the pieces dipped the lamb
1~,r IL, "a Il.
was eaten with wooden spoons. The groom
WAS not at our tray, but in an adjoining room
ate with his family, sitting on rugs. / may ex-
plain here that he did not consider himself
quite the social equal Of his guests, who con-
sisted of high native officials from other towns,
English and American and in Difference to
them made this discrimination.
THE CEREMONY IN CHURCH.
After the supper the groom was taken to the
church by bis friends and the bride was
brought in later. The bride was attired in
light flowing silk gown cut in the Syrian fash
ion, with dark jacket trimmed in lace and
gold coins. and wearing three wells. One very
flmy and thin was thrown all over her and the
other two heavier covered her face. She wore
bracelets, earrings and other jewelry. There
were no bridesmaids, but the brides married
sister, evidently soon to become mother,
acted as maid of honor.
The groom stood before the altar and the
bride came to him. They shook hands and the
Greek priest invited them to step forward,
which they did, and he began reading from q
book the marriage ceremony. The groom was
asked for the ring, but he had either lost it or
forgotten it and a man standing near him
handed him one, which the priest took, and,
after making a number Of peculiar crosses on
the groom, placed the ring on his bridal cap.
The maid of honor then gave the priest
bracelet, which. after crossing the bride as he
had done the groom, he placed on her head.
THE COUPLE LOCKED UP.
This ended the ceremony and everybody
came forward and congratulated the couple.
When this was over a few invited guests re-
NAMED and the bride danced for them The
oh urch was crowded with people, the natives
sitting On rugs and the English and Americans
on chairs and stools. The ceremonies at the
church were concluded in about three-quarters
Of an hour and then the bride and groom were
escorted by party of frietds. all on foot, to
his home, the bride, according to the custom
OF the country. appearing very reluctant to
60 and holding back at intervals in the shyest
kind Of way. On arriving at his house they |
we're ushered into his room by their friends |
the door was locked on them the key carried |
away by their neighbors and they were left to
until morning.
The bride and groom being thus disposed of
by o'clock, the invited guests we're taken to |
the top Of an adjoining house, where a grand |
was given in the most beautiful |
think ever saw. This entertain
ment was made up of fencing with Damascus |
swords, oriental dancing, singing. playing on |