The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-21
(. MOORISH WEDDINGS.
Peculiar Ceremonies Performed
IN Morocco.
Extraordinary Appearance OF the Bride
When In n State OF Preparation
for tho Reception of tho
bridegroom.

|
correspondent of the London Graphic.
We found our way to low white
washed house, which the ladies of 1.-The
party entered The gentlemen had to
remain outside, as no man is permitted
to look on Moorish lady. We found
ourselves in short passage leading
into the ''patio," square hall round
which the rooms are built. The patio
was crowded with women squatting on
the floor, some slipping tea or eating
sweet cakes; others (the paid musicians)
sing in q low, nasal chant to the ac-
compartment 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 high
ly painted. The room was long and
narrow. Its ceilings were painted in
brilliant colors and the whitewashed
walls for about six feet were hung with
handsome dado of crimson velvet in
panels, each panel being a Moorish
arch applique in green broche with gold
embroidery. Behind white lace cur
tains at each end of the room stood
bed with white pillows incased in Moor
ish embroidery on silk, IL valance of the
same reaching to the ground. On one
of these beds sat the Bride, tailor fash
ion, with Il veil of checked muslin en-
tirely cnvcloping her. This was pres
emily raised and disclosed the lady to
our view. She was n girl of fourteen,
and being very fat was considered
beauty. To be fat is considered wom-
ans greatest attraction. Indeed, when
nearing the marriagcablc age, it is COM
mon for girls to lie for weeks covered
with warm blankets, passing their time
in doing and feeding on fattening
diet of milk, "boos koosoo" (thc native
dish), oil, peas, or n certain bean, sup
posed to be infalliblc as fat producer.
Her face presented the most ex-
traordinary appearance, being painted
white with a delicate pattern in pale
blue, yellow and black on three-cor-
nered patch of crimson on each check
and chin. The eyebrows were indi-
Gated by n thick line of dense black,
and from the corners of tho eyes which
were blacllcncd, extended fan-shaped
design in black to the top of the ears.
The tips of her fingers and toes were
dyed terra Gotta with henna- Aysha
| ESQ she was called was clad in n gor-
| geous HAITIAN of rcd silk and gold bro
cade, embroidered in gold and reaching
to her ankles. Her undcrgarments
were pure-colorcd brocadc and her
waistcoat green velvet and gold. Over
the HAITIAN hung light gauzc 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 n narrow edge of each on the
| forehead. Above these came band of
| black velvet with n close design of seed
| pearls and cmeralds. Her neck was
cncircled by many necklaces, princi-
| pally strings of pearls with occasional
uncut cmeralds and amethysts. She
further wore a number of rings, and
bracelets and anlslets of costly but
clumsy description. The most remark
able piece of jewclry was the earrings,
which were as large as an ordinary
bracelet, the part going through the
ear being a tube of gold quite half an
inch in diameter.
While we were gazing ather we heard
cry in the patio, which was quickly
|
chamber. The bridal veil was immedi-
ately dropped and the women assumed
their hell1s, long white wooden shawl.
The reason of this commotion was tho
entrance of Aysha's brother, a tall
Moor in dark blue cloth djellabea and
white turban. He seated himself on
the bed front of his sister, and the lat
ter, putting her arms around his neck,
was carried picllabaclS into the patio.
Here the women were congrcgated
around q 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. Draperies were dropped over
the opening, and Aysha, in her cage.
was hoisted on q mule ut the door of
the house. The procession then formed
up, tho musicians, playing drums, lead
ing the way, followed by Moors carry
ing brass candelabras with colored can
dies. Then came the brides box, sur
rounded by twenty or thirty Riffians
doing u wild, fantastic powder plays
with their long brass or silver-mounted
guns. Then moro candles. and long
array of friends. In this way is the
bride bor-.c to her husbands home; no
matter how far it may be, in the box
she must remain until she arrives there.
Then the box is lifted down to the
threshold, and the bridegroom's mother
comes with n bowl of milk, q loaf of
bread and salt for the bride to taste.
The keys are then delivered to her, and,
the old lady keeping in front of the
box, the bride crawis out, crawls onto
l. L.