Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-11
A MOORISH MARRIAGE.
CEREMONIES ATTENDING THE cELe-
BRATlON IN MOROCCO.

Tissue-Carried on Her BROTHERS Back.
1t was evening when we started off to
Moorish wedding, one of the most interest
ing sights of Morocco. We found our way
10 low, whitewashed house, which the
ladies of the party entered. The gentle
men had tosremain outside, as no man is
permitted to look on Moorish lady. We
found ourselves in short passage leading
into the patio" a square hall around
which the rooms are built. The patio was
crowded with women sQuatting on the
door, some slipping tea and eating sweet
cakes; Others (the paid musicians) sing in
a low, nasal chant to the accompaniment
Of tomtoms.
Passing through these we came into the
room where the bride sat in state. The at
mosphere was sitting. She was surrounded
by lady friends and relatives, many of
whom held long lighted candles. The
women were smartly attired and had their
faces and eyes highly painted. The room
was long and narrow. Its ceiling was
painted in brilliant colors and the white
washed walls for about six feet were hung
with handsome dado of crimson velvet in
panels, each panel being Moorish arch
applique in green broche with gold en-
broidery. Behind white lace curtains at
each end of the room stood a bed with pill
lows encased in Moorish embroidery on
silk, valance of the same reaching to the
ground.
THE BRIDES APPEARANCE.
On one of these beds sat the bride, tailor
fashion, with a veil of checked muslin en-
tirely envelopiug her. This was presently
raised and disclosed the lady to our view
She was girl of fourteen, and, being very
fat, was considered beauty. To be fat is
considered a woman's greatest attraction
Indeed, when nearing manageable age
it is common for girls to lie for weeks COW
cred with warm blankets, passing their
time in doing and feeding on fattening
diet of milk, "boos koosoo" uhe native
dish), oil, peas, or a certain bean supposed
to be infallible as fat producer.
Her face presented the most eXtraordi-
nary appearance, being painted white with
delicate pattern in pale blue, yellow and
black on three cornered patch of crimson
on each cheek and chin. The eyebrows
were indicated by thin line of dense black,
and from the corners of the eyes, which
were blackened, extended fanshaped de-
sign in black to the top of the ears. The
tips of her fingers and toes were died terra
Gotta with henDa. Aysha $50 she was
called) was clad in gorgeous HAITIAN of
red silk and gold brocade, embroidered ID
gold and reaching to her ankles. Her
underGarmenJs were pure colored brocade
and her waistcoat green velvet and gold.
Over the HAITIAN hung light gauze gar
ment, open down the front and confined
by band of gold and silk in many colors.
Her headdress was composed of silk
handkerchiefs, pinned around so as to
show a narrow edge of each on the fore
head. Above these came band of black
velvet with close design of seed pearls
and emeralds. Her neck was encircled by
many necklaces, principally strings of
pearls, with occasional uncut emeralds
and amethysts. She further wore a num-
Der of rings and bracelets and anklets of a
costly but clumsy description. The most
remarkable piece of jewelry was the ear
rings, which were as large an ordinary
bracelet, the part going through the ear
being a tube of gold quite half an inch in
diameter. The girls accustom their ears to
this by pressing date stones through the
hole. At the front of the earrings was an
ornament of gold filigree and precious
stones, to which was attached a gold chain
| fastened by brooch to the headdress. Her
| outfit was completed by pair of velvet
and gold slippers.
RIDING PICKABACE-
While we were gazing at her we heard n
| cry in the patio, which was quickly taken
| up by the women in the bridal cham Der.
| The bridal veil was Immediately dropped
and the women assumed their helks, a
| long, white wooden shawl. The reason of
| this commotion was the entrance of
Aysha's brother, tall Moor in dark blue
| cloth djellabea aud white turban. He
| seated himself on the bed front of his sis
| ter, and the latter, putting her arms around
his neck, was carried pickaback into the
| patio. Here the women were congregated
around curious wooden box, swathed in
4 bridal clothes. At one side was an open
| ing. where the Moor knelt. The bride
climbed over his head and into the box.
Draperies were dropped over the opening,
and Aysha, in her cage, was hoisted on a
mule at the door of the house
The procession then formed up, the mu.
sicians, playing drums, leading the way
followed by Moors carrying brass candle.
labras with colored candles. Then came
the brides box, surrounded by twenty OF
thirty Riffians doing wild, fantastic
powder play" with their long brass OIL
silver mounted guns. Then more candles
and long array of friends. In this way is
the bride borne to her husbands home; nc
matter how far it may be, in the box she
must remain till she arrives there.
Then the box is lifted down to the
threshold and the bridegroom's mother
comes with a bowl of milk, a loaf of breat
and salt for the bride to taste. The keys
are then delivered to her, and the old lad,
keeping in front of the box, the bride
crawls out, crawls on TO her mother-in
laws back and is carried to the brida
chamber, there, still yelled, to be locked il
alone. The mother then delivers the Ike,
of the room to her son, who goes to unvei
and look for the first time on his bride
London Graphic.