San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-11
M~OHAMMEDAN MARRIAGES.

There are many things in the pc.
culiar social life of the OrientaIs
which are &c different from the man.
ners and customs of the Western
people that it is difficult for them to
understand how such apparently un.
satisfactory methods could be accept
ed without question and ~contentedly
by Intelligent and refined persons.
Obviously it would not be easy to
convince the women of America and
Europe that the narrow and secluded
life of Oriental wives and daughters
could eve he made acceptable.
Nevertheless, 1t has always been de-
clared that the Eastern women are
entirely satisfied with it, and there is
no evidence that they are not as con.
tented and happy as are those who
enjoy all the liberty accorded to the
sex in the European and American
countries.
W. might be disposed to account
for such a state of feeling among the
females of the Orient ON the grounds
that the women have been subjugat-
ed to q eort of slavery; but how about
the men? When an Oriental man en-
ters into matrimOny, it is always
with a woman whom he has never
seen, much less eve spoken to. To
use q rude smile, when he takes q
wife he "buys q pig In q poke" Fer
he never sees her, face until all the
formalities, legal and religious, have
been completed, and the parties
are married and more indissO.
lubly joined together than are the
welded couples of most Christian
divorce his wife for o less serious
offense than adultery. But despite
these singular circumstances, to
which no Christian man would sub
NIT. there is no reason to suppose
that Oriental wives are less satisfac-
tory or less charming than are those
Of the countries in which the welded
couples are given every reasonable
opportunity beforehand to become
acquainted.
But when we come to know the
methods and practices which precede
q Mohammedan marriage, we dis
cover that for the man it is not such q
blindfold proceeding, although he Is
forced to trust to the eyes of another.
In an article in the Arena magazine
tor January, Prot. A. N. Jannizsris, an
enlightened Turkish gentleman, gives
some interesting information. When
3 young lady has been suggested as a
proper person for q bride, 8 female
relative, mother or some other, of the
intending groom, takes charge of
the business. She arraDges q party
at the public Turkish bath for women
When the day appointed for it has
come, both parties meet. supplied
with dainty dishes, greasy pastries
and sweetmeats OF various descrip
tons. AS q matter of course, great
attention is paid also to the dresses.
For it must be noted that Turkish
women, though very fond Of dresses,
have no other place to display luxury
excepting their secluded apartments
and public baths.
Al soon as the two parties meet in
the bath there is q series of erdless
compliments of the most sentimental
and poetical nature. In this the Mus
sulman excels all other nations of the
globe. The company take seats cross
legged on divans, and coffee, sherbet,
cigarettes, long pipes (chibouks) and
nargilehs (waterpipes) are served
around. Amidst the clouds OF
smoke, the eager gossip aoross
and simultaneously, and the Shrek
ing laughter, the future moth
er-in-law manages adroitly to
seat herself by the nominee Aliye,
and pushes her to talk. Unconscious
of the object, the poor child under
gone q skillful examination. Her
features, character and other quail
ties are sharply scrutenized. When
this part of the feast is over, the con
pany undress and enter into the hot
apartments of the bath. During the
whole time of this and the next pro
ceedings the future mother-in.l law
never quits the young girl.
She avails herself of every
movement and turn the unconscious
girl to make thorough constitutional
and aesthetic Investigations. 1t Is
hardly necessary TO emphasize here
that should the nominee be wanting
in any constitutional perfection or
requisite to healthy and consunmate
woman hood, the ever watcbful Cor
gon would detect the blemish and re-
port accordingly.
The bathing is followed by the ban
quet. The company take their seats,
always cross-legged, Oh rugs spread
round q large circular sslver which is
supported by . low stool and repre-.
sents the table. The feast may last
for several hours, during which the
mother in-law lever forgets her mis-
sion. She has plenty Of occasion to
compile te her studies of the nominee.
At lens tn the party breaks up with
mutual compliments and assurances
of delight, and the delegated mother
of the sutton hastens home to meet
her son and husband. She gives
them such a detailed report as only q