The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-09-03
A BEDOUIN WEDDING.
AN ACCOUNT OF A MARRIAGE AMONG
A WANDERING PEOPLE.

How the Bedouins Celebrate an Engage
| Welded without Having Seen Her Fu-
ture Lord-A Simple Feast.
A Bedouin wedding, which l lately
had the occasion to witness, took place
in Ramleh, seaside resort near Alexan-
dria, where many houses have Bedouin
ghafr, who pitches his tent near his
masters house, and lives there with his
| family and cattle, if he has any.
The bridegroom was the son of a
friends ghafr. Previous to the engage
ment the father had obtained three days
leave on the plea of his going down to
Alexandria for the choice of daugh-
ter-in-law. On the evening of the third
day several shots fred successively an
nounced to the native Bedouins the CHA
frs return and the happy result of his
mission. The wedding was fixed for that
day week.
Groups of Bedouins hastened to an
swer 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 down
ward. Now and then one of the fellows
walled forth Bedouin song. while the
others chorused The women sat chat
ting before the tent and occasionally
filled the air with the shrill sound of the
ziraleet. No refreshment was offered.
and their sole eclairage 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 pictur-
esquely dressed, and their faces covered
with a 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 round, shaking
their hips and leaning at different in
tervals on their staffs, while the clapping
of hands redoubled in whichever part
of the ring the women approached.
observed a young enthusiast take
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
ones several cauldrons 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 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 the bride. They had taken with
them one of the ghafir's camels, which
they had gaily decorated with red and
blue cloth, and erected canopy on it's
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 sing At about o'clock in the
afternoon the merry party arrived at the
bridegroom's place. The latter had re-
mained at home.
The father, who was holding the cam
els 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 a
Bedouin wedding Finally the camel
stopped before the entrance of the tent
md Nl1 Il
mother-in-law
THE BRIDE.
| was curious to see her face, and, as |
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 fourteen, with regular
features. beautiful black eyes and tatooed
china most prevalent fashion among
Betlouin women She wore long, dark
red silk chemise. caught up at the waist
with deep sash. On her head she wore
dark blue veil. tied with 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 escape 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 ghafr handed over to
his sons father-in-law $50 ON condition
that If later on the young wife should
ask to be divorced, the money was to
come back to its first owner: and if on
the contrary, the husband claimed a
separation, t:le sum would remain with
his fatber-in law.