The Dickinson press., 1891-08-15
A BEDOUIN WEDDING.
AN ACCOUNT OF A MARRIAGE AMONG
A WANDERING PEOPLE.

Welded without Having Seen Her Flu
turc Lord-A Simple Feast.
A Bedouin wedding, which l lately
had tho occasion to witness, took place
in Ralnlcl, a seaside resort near AlcXan-
dria. where many houses have a Bcdouin
CHAIR, who pitches his tent near his
masters house, and lives there with his
and cattle, if he has any.
The bridegroom was tho son of a
CHAIR. Previous to the engage
ment the father had obtained three days
leave on tho plea of his going down to
Alexandria for the choice Of a daugh-
On the evening Of the third
day several shots fired successfully an
nuunced to tho native Bedouins the CHA
frs return and the happy result of his
mission. The wedding was fixed for that
day week.
Groups of Bedouins FASTENED to an
swer to the invitation, and after some
talking and shouting the men soon
formed q ring and began clapping hands,
the body keeping time to the movements
Of the hands by going upward and down
ward. Now and then one of the fellows
walled forth u Bedouin song, while the
others chorused. The women sat chat
ting before the tent and occasionally
filed the air with the shrill sound of the
~ziraleet. No refreshment was offered,
and their sole eclairage was the moon,
whose silvery light gave a 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
esquely dressed, and their faces covered
with o soft black muslin. They entered
the ring formed by the men, each of
them holding q long staf-an adjunct
to the various movements of their figures.
They went round and round, shaking
their hips and leaning at different in
tervals on their stats, while the clapping
of hands redoubled in whichever part
of tho ring the women approached.
I observed a young enthusiast take
o handful of sand from where one of the
women had trodden and kiss it re-
peatedly. noticed that 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.
THE WEDDING.
At last the eventful morning dawned.
A new tent had been pitched for the
young couple, while in that of the old
800 ,,onrl ro@1I~o~c f,,11 oe r3oo o~.1
water were boiling. When the rice wa
done some oil 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 wa
attended to by the bridegroom's mother
aided by some other matrons. The
ghafir and the young people had gone to
fetch tho bride. They had taken will
them one of the ghafir's camcls, which
they had gaily decorated with red ant
blue cloth, and erected q canopy on it:
back to receive the bride.
A large procession was formed, headed
by horsemen and other Bedouins armei
with guns, which they fred frequently
The bride, completely hidden from sigh
by the curtains Of the canopy, and fol
lowed by the women, brought up thu
rear. They went all over Ramleh, stop
ping before every friends tent to dance
fro and sing. AT about 4 o'clock in tht
afternoon tho merry party arrived at thu
bridegroom's place. Tho latter had 70
manned at home.
The father, who was holding the cam
els bride, handed it over to his wife
who led the animal seven times arount
the bridal tent, each time accompanied
by shots, which arc the chief feature in
a Bedouin wedding. Finally the came
stopped before the entrance of the tent
and the bride was carried in by he
mother-in-law.
Il BRIDE.
Twas curious to see her face, and, as
was asked to go in, l gladly accepted
The tent had two compartments and wa
quite devoid Of furniture, except som
rugs and straw mattings, on one Of whicl
tho bride sat surrounded by other women
She was q girl of fourteen, with regula
features, beautiful black eyes and tatooe'
china most prevalent fashion amonI
Bedouin women. She wore a long, darl
rcd silk chemise, caught up at the wais
with a deepsash. On her head she wor
q dark blue veil, tied with a red sill
handkerchief, beneath which very fin
plaits of jet black hair came down i
two bandeaux over her temples. Ate
exchanging a few complimentary word
with her, l withdrew, glad to escape tn
sitting atmosphere of the tent.
A sheik had been called to perfor1
the marriage contract, which took plac
between the parents of both parties
The new couple were not present at tn
ceremony. The CHAIR handed over t
his sons father-in-law ESQ IN conditio
that if later on the young wife shout
ask to be divorced, the money was t
come back to its first owner; and if, O
the contrary, the husband claimed
separation, the sum would remain wit
his father-in-law.
During that time the guests had 81
over their frugal meal, of which the
partook in groups of four or five person
around each wooden bowl. Their finger
spared them the use of;;forks and spoons
While they were still occupied witt
their repast the bridegroom stole to tn
nuptial tent, where he saw bis wife 70
the 6lst time. Half an hppr afterwar,
the noisy party broke up and quie
reigned London Queen.
Praying for Home.
Here is the payer Of the minister o
. the Cumbrays, two miserable islands il
the, mouth # the Clyde, 80 Lord, bles
and be gracious to the Greater and tn
lesser Cumhrays, and In Thy mercy d
notsfosget the ad9nntiislmds of Grea
Bnt3p and 1r5kmd."-San Francisc
A<gdnaut.
4 Seven children-three sons and for
douGh4orc- tho aholit;on;st Lob