The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-08
HOW THE M00RS ARE WE'D
Description Of Some Of the Peculiar
Ceremonies Attending Mar
riages in Morocco.
The Bride Must Be Fattened, as
This Is Considered a Great
Attraction.
and Borne to Her husbands Home
with Mock Force.

10 was evening when We started off to a
Moorish wedding, one of the most interest
ing sights of Morocco, writes a correspond
emit of tho London Daily Graphic. We
found our way to a low, w~hitewashed
house, which the ladies of the party en-
tered. The gentlemen had to rem ain out
side. as no man is permitted to look on u
Moorish lady. We found ourselves IN n
short passage leading into the patio" a
square hall around which the rooms
are built, The patio was crowded with
women squatting on the floor, some slipping
tea and eating sweet cakes, others 1.-THE
paid musicians) singing a low, nasal chant
TO the accompaniment of tom-toms.
Passing through these We came into the
room where the bride sat in state. Tn at
mospbere 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 brightly painted. The room
painted in brilliant %colors, aud the white
washed walls for about six feet, were hung
with a handsome dado of crimson velvet i'll
panels, each panel being a Moorish arch
applique in green broche with green en-
broidery. behind white cartains at each
CAlAk VI ULO oo3oo0 " = RAAAoNo
incased in Moorish embroidery on silk, a
valance of the same reaching to the
ground. On one of these beds sat the bride,
tailor fashion, with a veil of checked mus
lin entirely enveloping her. This was
presently raised, and disclosed the lady to
our view. She was a girl Of fourteen, and
being very fat. was considered a beauty. To
be fat is considered a woman's greatest at
traction. Indeed, when nearing a mar
riaQeable age, it ia common for girls to lie
"a -----.E IL 1,-A /
their time in doing and feeding on
a fattening diet of milk, ''boos koosoo" (the
dish), oil, peas or a certain
bean, supposed to be infallible as a fat pro-
Queer.
Her face presented the most extraordi-
a delicate pattern in pale blue, yellow and
black on a three-cornered patch of crimson
on each cheek and the chin. The eyebrows
we're indicated by a thick line Of dense
black, and from the corners of
the eyes, wh1 fan.shs wsis desiam IN
to the top Of the ears.
The tips Of her fingers and toes were dyed
terra Gotta with henna. Ayisha ESQ she was
oalled) was clad in a Gorgeous Rattan of red
and gold brocade. embroidered in gold.
reaching to her ankles. Her under
were pure colored brocade and
her waistcoat green velvet and gold. Over
the HAITIAN hung a light gauze garment,
open down the front and confined by a
oand of gold and silk in many colors. Her
lead-dress was composed of silk handker-
,hiefs, pinned round 80 as to show a mar
edge of each on the forehead. Above
;hese came a band of black velvet with a
lose design of seed pearls and emeralds.
neck was encircled by many neck
aces, principally strings of pearls. with
occasional uncut emeralds and amethysts.
She further wore a number of rings
md bracelets and anklets of a
costly but clumsy description. The :
most remarkable piece of jewelry was the
Earrings, which were as large AS an ordinary
the part going through the ear
,eing a tube of gold quite half an inch in
liameter. The pirls accustom their ears to
his by pressing date stones through the
lole. At the front of the earring was an
Of gold filigree and precious
tones. to which was attached a gold chain
astened to a brooch to the headdress. Her
'utfit was completed by a pair OF velvet r
nd gold slippers.
While we were gazing at her we heard q 4
ny in the patio which was quickly taken up
y the women in the bridal chamber. The .
'ridal veil WAS immediately dropped and :
women assumed their heiks. a long white
ion was the entrance of Ayisha's brother, a
all Moor in dark blu cloth djellabea and
White turban. He seated himself on the
ed in front of his sister, and the latter,
her arms around his neck, was car
led piokaback into the patio. Here the
Vomen were congregated around a curious
box, swathed in bridal clothes. At
ne side was an opening, where the Moor
melt. The bride climbed over his head r
into the box. Draperies were dropped l.
yer the opening, and Ayisha, in her cage, =
'as hoisted on a mule at the door of the
ouse. The procession then formed up, the
musicians, playing drums, leading the way,
ollowed by Moors carrying brass oandela-
ras with colored candles. Then came the
rides box, surrounded by twenty or thirty
,~itfiians doing a wild, fantastic powder
lay" with their long brass or silver
guns. Then more candles
a long array of friends. In this
'ay is the bride borne to her hus-
home; no matter how far it may be
/ the box she must remain till she arrives
here. Then the box ia lifted down to the
nreshold, and the bridegroom's mother
omes with a bowl of milk, a loaf of bread
nd salt for the bride to taste. The keys
then delivered to her, and the old lady
neeling in front of the box, the bride
rawls out, crawls on to her mother. in =
WIS back and is carried to the bridal
namber, there, still yelled, to be locked
l alone. The mother then delivers the
ey of the room to her son, who goes to
nveil and look for the first time on his