Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-10
MARRIAGE AMONG THE MooRs.
Peculiar Ceremonies Attending tho Cele-
bration In Morocco.


Peculiar Ceremonies Attending tho Cele-
bration In Morocco.
London Graphic.
1t was evening when we started off to
Moorish wedding, one Of the most in
teresting sights of Morocco. We found
our way to low whitowashed house,
which the ladies of the party entered.
The gentlemen had 10 remain outside, as
no man is permitted to look on Moor
ish lady. We found ourselves in short
passage leading into the "patio," a
square hall round which the rooms are
built. The patio was crowded with
women squatting on the floor, some sip
ping tea and eating sweet cakes; others
(the paid musicians) sing in low nasal
chant to the accompaniment of tom
toms.
Passing through these, we came into
the room where the bride sat in state.
The atmosphere was sitting. she was
surrounded by lady friends and rela-
tives, many OF whom held long lighted
candles. The women were smartly at
tired, and had their faces and eyes
highly painted. The room was long and
narrow. Its ceiling was painted IN brill
liant colors, and the whitewashed walls
for about six feet were hung with n
handsome dado of crimson velvet in
panels, each panel being q Moorish arch
applique in green broche with n gold
embroidery. Behind white lace curtains
at each end of the room stood bed with
pillows encased 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 q veil of checked
muslin entirely developing her. This
was presently raised and disclosed the
lady to our view. She was a girl of IA,
and, being very fat, was considered q
beauty. To lie fat is considered u
woman's greatest attraction. Indeed,
when nearing manageable age, it is
common for girls to be for weeks Gov
cred with warm blankets, passing their
time in doing and feeding on fatten-
ing diet of milk, "boos koosoo" 1.-THE
native disb), oil, peas, or a certain bean,
supposed TO be infallible as u fat-pro-
Queer.
Her face presented the most extraor-
binary appearance, being painted white
with delicate pattern in pale blue, yell
low and black on three.cornered patch
of crimson on each cheek and chin. The
eyebrows were indicated by thick line
of dense black, and from the corners of
the eyes, which We're blackoned, ex-
tended a fan-shaped design in black to
the top of the ears The tips of her
fingers and toes were died terra Gotta
with henna. Aysha $50 she was called)
was clad in a gorgeous kaftan of red
silk and gold Drocade, embroidered in
gold, and reaching to her ankles. Her
under-garments were pure colored bro
cade, and her waistcoat green velvet
and gold. Over the Rattan hung a light
gauze garment, open down the front,
and confined by band Of gold and silk
in many colors.
Her headdress was composed of silk
handkerchiefs, pinned round 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
ofpearls, with occasional uncut emeralds
and amethysts. She further wore num-
Der of rings and bracelets and anklcts of
a costly but clumsy description. The
hANSN iCAihihhb HiNtC vi lGhtllN was
the earrings, which were as large ms an
ordinary bracelet, the part going through
the ear being a tube Of gold quite half
an inch in diameter. The girls accus-
tom their car to this by pressing
date stones through the hole. At the
front of the earrings was an ornament
of gold illagree and precious stones, to
which was attached gold chain fas-
tened by brooch to the headdress. Her
outfit was completed by pair of velvet
and gold slippers.
While we were gazing at her we
heard cry in the patio, which was
quickly taken up by the women in the
bridal chamber. The bridal veil was
Immediately dropped and the women
assumed their helks, a long white
wooden shawl. The reason of this COM
motion was the entrance of Aysha's
brother, tall Moor, in dark blue cloth
djellabea and white turban. He seated
himself on the bed front of his sister,
and the latter, putting her arms around
his neck, was carried pickaback into the
patio. Here the women were congre-
gated around curious wooden box,
swathed in bridal clothes. AT one side
was an opening, where the Moor knelt.
The bride climbed over his head and
into the box. Drapcries were dropped
over the opening, and Aysha, in her
cage, was hoisted on q mule at the door
of the house.
The procession then formed up, the
musicians playing drums, leading the
way, followed by Moors carrying brass
candelabras with colored candles, then
came the BRIDES box, surrounded by GO
or 30 ltiillans doing a wild, fantastic
powder play" with their long brass OIL
silver-mounted guns. Then more can.
dies and long array of friends. In
this way is the bride borne to her hus.
bands home; no matter how far ii may
be, in the box she must remain ill she
arrives there. Then the box is lifted
down to the Threshold and the bride.
| groom's mother comes with bowl OF
milk, loaf of bread and salt for The
bride to taste. The keys are then de-
livered to her, and the old lady keeping
in front of the box, the bride erawls out
crawis onto her mother-in- laws back
and is carried to the bridal chamber
there, still yelled, to be locked in alone
The mother then delivers the key of tho
room to her son, who goes to unveil ant
look for the first time on his bride.
---
Strengthening English Sparrows.
CHICAGO, Dec. Binder the new law
which into effect December LIST, giving ,
bounty of two cents for the head 81
each English sparrow killed in the stat,
the slaughter of the little birds has beer
inGugurated with vigor. The sparrow
man in the county clerks office took il
1879 heads yesterday. One man cam,
in in the morning with 1877 live spar
rows. Pull off their heads and brin,
those in" said the clerk" we don't wan