The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-06
wEDDED DESERT BaIDE.
Interesting Account of a Marriage
Among the Bedouins.

Interesting Account of a Marriage
Among the Bedouins.
From the London Queen.
A Bedouin wedding, which | lately had
the occasion to witness, took place in
Ramleh-a seaside resort near Alexandria
where many houses have a Bedouin ghafir,
who pitches his tent near his masters
house, aud lives there 9th bis family and
cattle, IL he has any.
The bridegroom was the son Of friends
ghafr. Previous to the engagement the
father had obtained three days leave on the
plea Of his going down to Alexandria for
the choice OF a daughter-in-law. On the
evening of the third day several shots fired
SUCCESSFULLY announced to the native
Bedouins the ghafir's return and the happy
result of bis mission. The wedding was
fixed for that day week.
Groups of Bedouins fastened TO answer to
the invitation, and after some talking and
shouting the men soon formed a ring and
began clapping hands, the body keeping
time to the movements Of the hands by
going upward and downward. Now and
then one of the fellows walled forth a
Bedouin song. while the others chorused.
The women sat chatting before the tent and
occasionally filed the air with the shrill
sound of the Ziraleet. No refreshment was
offered, and their sole ecldirdge was the
moon, whose silvery light gave weird
aspect to the whole scene. After an hours
amusement the guests retired.
The next evening the firing brought forth
all the company of the preceding night.
This time the great attraction was two
dancing women, very picturesquely dressed,
and their faces covered with a soft black
muslin. They entered the ring formed by
the man, each of them holding long staff
adjunct to the various movements OF
their figures They went round and round,
shaking their hips and leaning at diff
ferent intervals on their stats,
while ,,o the ealapping Of T.. hands ads
women approached. l observed young
enthusiast take q handful of sand from
where one of the women had trodden and
kiss it repeatedly. | noticed that the bride>
groom was absent, and, asking for the
cause, was informed that he was too bash
full to appear. Two hours later the COM
pany dispersed, to begin again at intervals
during the short engagement.
At last the eventful morning dawned. A
new tent had been pitched for the young
couple, while in that of the old ones several
cauldrons full of rice and water we're boil
Ing. When the rice was done some Gil was
poured over it, and then very large wooden
bowls were brought forward to receive the
contents Of the cauldrons. This formed the
whole menu Of the wedding breakfast. and
was attended to by the bridegroom's
mother, aided by some other matrons. The
ghafir and the young people had gone to
fetch thesbride. They had taken with them
one Of the ghafir's cemels, which they had
gayly decorated with red and blue cloth,
and erected canopy on its back to receive
the bride.
A large procession was formed, headed
by horsemen and other Bedouins armed with
guns. which they fred frequently. The
bride, completely hidden from sight by the
curtains Of the canopy and followed by the
women, brought up the rear. They went
all over Ramleh, stopping before every
friends tent 20 dance. fire and sing. At
about o'clock in the afternoon the merry
party arrived at the bridegroom's place.
The latter had remained at home. The
father, who was holding the cancels bride,
handed it over to his wife, VINO led the
animal seven times around the bridal tent,
each time accompanied by shots, which are
the chief feature in a Bedouin wedding.
Finally the camel stopped before the en-
trance OF the tent, and the bride was carried
in by her mother-ln-law.
l was curious to see her face, and, as l
was asked to go in, gladly accepted. The
tent had two compartments, and was quite
devoid OF furniture, except some rugs and
straw mattings. on one of which the bride
sat, surrounded by other women. She was
girl Of IA, with regular features, beauti-
full black eyes, and tattooed china most
prevalent fashion among Boudoin women.
She wore a long, dark-red silk chemise,
caught up at the waist with deep sash
On her head she wore a dark blue veil, tied
with red silk handkerchief, beneath which
very fine plaits of jet black hair came down
in two baudeaux over her temples. After
exchanging a few complimentary words
with her. 1 withdrew, glad to escape the
sitting atmosphere of the tent ~
| 81 A sheik had been called to perform the
marriage contract, which took place be-
| tween the parents Of both parties. The new
couple were not present at the ceremony.
The ghatir handed over to his sons father
in-law ESQ on condition that, If later on the
| young wife should ask to be divorced from
! ner husband, the money was to come back
to it's first owner; and IT, on the contrary,
| the husband claimed separation, the sum
would remain with his father-in-law. -
During that time the guests had sat over
| their frugal meal, of which they parbook
in groups Of four or five persons around
each wooden bowl. Their fingers spared
| them the use of forks and spoons. While
they were still occupied with their repast
the bridegroom stole to the nuptal tent,
where he saw his wife for the first time.
| Half an hour afterward the noisy party
broke up, and quiet reigned.