The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-01-23
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MOORISH WEDDING,
The Ceremony is One of tho Most Interest,"
ing sights OF Morocco

MOORISH WEDDING.
The Ceremony is One of tho Most Interest
ing sights OF Morocco.
Ii was evening when we started of to a
Moorish wedding. one Of the most inter-
esting sights of Morocco We found our
way TO low, whitewashed house, which
the ladies' of the party entered.
The gentlemen had to remain outside,
as no man is permitted to look on a
Moorish lady. We found ourselves in u
short passage leading into the patio"
a square hall around which the rooms are
blilt.
The patio was crowded with women
squatting on the floor, some sipping tea and
eating sweet cakes; others (the paid musi-
cians) sing in a low, mas al chant TO the ac.
compartment of tomtoms
Passing through these We came into the
room where the bride sat in state.
The atmosphere was sitting. She was
surrounded b, lady friends and rel
atives, many of whom held long lighted
candles.
The women were smartly attired and had
their faces and eyes highly painted The
room was long and narrow. Its ceiling was
painted in brilliant colors and the white
washed walls for about six feet wer. hung
with handsome dado of crimson velvet
in panels, each panel being Moorish arch
applique in green broche with gold EN-
broidery.
Behind white lace curtains at each
end Of the room stood bed with pill
lows encased in Moorish embroidery on
silk. valance of the same reaching TO the
ground
On one of these beds sat the bride.
tailor fashion, with veil OF checked mus
lin entirely enveloplng her. This was
presently raised and disclosed the lady to
our view.
She was a girl of IA, and, being very
fat, was considered a beauty. To be fat
is considered woman's greatest attrac-
ton.
Indeed, when nearing a manageable
age it il common for girls to lie for weeks
covered with warm blankets, passing their
time in dozing and feeding on fatten-
ing diet, of milk, "boos koosoo" tthe
native dlsh), oil, peas, or certain bean
supposed to be infalibie as fat pro-
ducer.
Her face presented the most extraordin
airy appearance, being painted white with
delicate pattern in pale blue, yellow and
! black on three-cornered patch OF crimson
| on each cheek and chin.
The eyebrows were indicated bv a thin
! line of dense black. aud from the corners
of the eyes, which were blackened, ex-
tended fan-shaped design in black to the
top of the ears The tips Of her fingers
and toes were dyed terre Gotta with
henna.
Aysha, so she WAS called, was clad in a
gorgeous kaftan of red silk and gold bro
cade mbroidered in gold and reaching to
| her ankles. Her under garmerments we're
| colored broCade and her waistcoat green
velvet and gold. Over the kaftan hung a
| light gauzs garment opened down the
front and confined by bind of gold aud
silk in many colors
| While we were gazing at her we heard a
cry in the patio. which was quick
chamber. The bridal veil was immedi-
atey dropped and the women assumed
their helks, d long, white, woolen shawl.
The reason Of this commotion was the
entrance Of Aysha's brother a tall Moor,
in dark blue cloth di"''aba and white
turban.
He seated himself on the bed in front of
his sister, and the latter, putting her arms
around his neck was carried pickaback
into the porto.
Here the women were cou.regated
around curious wooden box, swathed in
bridal clothes. On one sid' was An open
ing. 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 mule at the door of the
house.
The procession is then formed and the
bride is borne 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
CORES with bowl of milk, a 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 bride crawls out, crawls on to
her mother r-ir-law's back and is carried
10 the bi idal chamber, there, still veihed
to be locked in alone. The mo,he. then
delivers the key Of tha room to her son.
who goes tc upveil and look for the first
time on bis bride. London Graphic.