Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-08-06
A DESERT BRIDE.
Intervening Account of Marriage
Among the Bedouins.

A Bedouin wedding. which lately
had the occasion to witness, took place
Ia Ramleh-a seaside resort near Alex
nndria where many houses have a
Bcdouin ghaiir. who pitches his tent
near his masters house, and lives there
with his family aud cattle, il he has any.
the bridegroom was the son Of a
friends ghatir. Previous 10 the engage
ment the father had obtained three days
leave on the plea Of his going down TO
Alexandria Tor the choice of 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 his 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 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 Bedouin song, while the others
chorused. The women sat chatting be-
fore the tent and occasionally filled the
air with the shrill sound of the ziraleet.
No refreshment was offered and their
sole ecIdirdge was the moon, whose sill
very 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 pictur-
esquely dressed, and their faces covered
with q soft black muslin. They entered
the ring formed by the men, each of them
holding long staff-an adjunct to the
various movements of their figures. They
went round and -iound, leaning at
different intervals on their stats, while
the clapping of hands redoubled in
whichever part of the ring the women
approached. / observed young en-
thusiast take handful of sand from
where one of the women had trodden
and kiss it repeatedly. noticed the
bridegroom was absent, and, asking for
the cause, was informed that he was too
bashful to appear. Two hours later the
company dispersed. to begin afresh at
intervals during the short engagement.
At last the eventful morning dawned.
n new tent nuu Uecu pIrcucu TOT rue
young couple, while in that of the old
ones several cauldrcns full of rice and
water were boiling. When the rice was
done some oil was poured over it, and
then very large wooden bowls
were brought forward to receive the
contents of the cauldrops. This formed
the whole menu of the wedding break
fast, and was attended to by the bride
groom's mother, aided by some other
matrons. The ghair and the young
people had gone to fetch the bride.
They had taken with them one of the
CHAIRS camels, which they had gayly
decorated with req aud bi,.s- cloth and
erected a canopy on its back to receive
the bride.
A large procession was formed. headed
by horsemen and other Bedouins armed
with guns, which they fired frequently.
The bride, completely hidden from sight
by the curtains of the canopy, and fol-
lowed by the women, brought up the
rear. They went all over Ramleh, stop
ping before every friends tent to dance
fire. and siney.-At aboue a % clock in the
afterr Don the merry party arrived at the
bridegroom's place. The latter had re-
NAMED at home. The father. who was
holding the camers bride, handed it
over TO his wife. who led the animal
seven times around the bridal tent. each
time accompanied by shots, which are
the chief feature in Bedouin wedding.
Finally the camel stopped before the en-
trance OF the tent, aud the bride was
carried in by her mother-in-law.
was curious TO see her face, and as l
was asked TO go in, l 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 a girl of IA, with
regular features, beautiful black eyes and
tattooed china most prevalent fashion
among Bedouin women. She wore a
long dark: red silk garment {, caught, W At
a red silk handkerchief. beneath which
very fine plaits of jet black hair came
down in two bandeaux over her temples.
After exchanging a few complimentary
words with her. / withdrew, glad to cs-
cape the sitting atmosphere of the
tent.
A sheik had been called to perform
the marriage contract, which took place
between the parents of both parties.
The new couple were not present at the
ceremony. The ghatir handed over to
his sons father -in-law $50 on condition
that If later on the young wife should
ask to be divorced from her husband,
the money was to come back to its first
owner; and if, on the contrary, the hus-
band 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
partook 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
nuptial tent, whers he saw his wife for
the first time. Half an hour afterward
the noisy party broke up, and quiet