Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-09-23
A MOORISH MARRIAGE.
CEREMONIES ATTENDING THE celE.
eRATloN IN MOROCCO.


Peculiar Appearance OF the Bridc-sho
Was Fat. bat Beauty In That Country
Il Gsuged h, III. Quantity of AdIpose
riss"e-cHrried on Her BROTHERS hack.
II was evening when we started OF TO
Moo, tsh wedding, one OF the most interest.
ing sights of Morocco. We found our way
60 a low. whitcwashed house, which the
ldies OF the party entered The gentle.
| men had In remain outside. Rs no man Is
permitted tn look on n Moorish lady. We
found ourselves in short passage leading
into the patio" square hail around
which the rooms are built. The patio was
crowded with women squatting on the
floor, some slipping tea and eating sweet
cakes; Others (the paid musieians) sing In
low. nasal chant to the accompaniment
OF tointoms.
Passing through these we came into the
room where the bride sat in state. The at
mosphere was sitting She was surrounded
by lady friends and relatives, many Of
whom held long lighted candles. The
women were smartly attired aud had their
faces and eyes highly painted The room
WINS long and narrow. Its ceiling was
painted in brilliant colors and the white
washed walls for about six feet were 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 ut
each end of the room stood bel with pil
lows encased in Moorish embroidery on
silk, n valance OF the same reaching to the
ground.
THE BRIDES APPEAIANcE
On one OF these beds sat the bride, tailor
fashion, with veil OF checked muslin Gu.
tirsly enveloping her. THIS was presently
raised and disclosed the lady to our view.
She WIS girl OF fourteen, and. being very
fat, was considered "A beauty. To he fat Is
considered woman's greatest attraction.
Indeed. when nearing IA marriageable aye
IL is common for girls TO lie for weeks GOV.
cred with warm blankets, passing their
time in doing and feeding on fattening
diet OF milk, "boos koosoo" tthc native
lish) oil, peas, or a certain bean supposed
to he infalliblo as u fat producer.
Her face presented the most extriordi
nary appearance, being painted white with
a delicate pattern in pale blue. yellow and
black on three cornered patch of crimson
on each cheek aEd chin. The eyebrows
were Indicated by thin line OF dense black
and from the corners OF the eyes, which
were backcned. extended a fanshapel de.
sign In black to the top OF the ears. The
tips Of her fingers and toes were died terra
Gotta with hennR Aysha $50 she was
called was clad in gorgeous kaftan OF
red silk and gold brocade, embroidered IA
gold and reaching TO her ankles Her
undcrgRrmeuts were pure colored brocade
aud her waiktcoat green velvet and gold
Over the kaftan hung light gauze gar
ment. open down the front aud confined
| by a band Of gold and silk in many colors
Her headdrcss was composed OF silk
handkerchiefs, pinned around 50 as to
show narrow edge OF each on the fore.
| head Above these came band of black
velvet with a close design OF seed pearls
and emeralds, Her neck was cnoircled by
many necklaces. principally strings Of
pearls. with occasional uncut cmeralds
and aInethysts. She further wore a mum
Der of rings and bracelets and anklets Of n
costly but clumsy description. The most
remarkable piece Of jewelry was the ear
rings, which were as large ns an ordinary
| bracelet the part going through the ear
being tube OF gold quite half an inch In
diameter. The girls accustom their ears Ia
this by pressing date stones through the
hole. At the front of the earrings was an
ornament of gold hligrcc aud precious
stones. To which WAS attached gold chain
fastened by n brooch to the beaddress Her
Quilt was completed by pair of velvet
and gold slippers.
RIDING fIcKABAcK
While we were gazing at her VIC heard n
/ 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 woolen shawl The reason OF
this cnmmotion was the entrance OF
Aysha's brother. tall Moor in dark blue
cloth djellabea and white turban lie
seated himself on the bed front Of his sis.
ter, and the latter, putting her arms around
bis neck. WAS carried pickablck into the
| patio. Here the women were congregatetl
around a csrious wooden box. swathed ia
bridal clothes. AT one side 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, Ia her cage, was hoisied on a
mule at the door OF the house
The procession then formed up. the mu.
sicians, playing drums, leading the way,
followed by Moors carrying brass candle
labras with coiOred candles Then came
the brides box, surrounded 10y twenty OF
thirty Riiiians doing wild. fantastic
powder play" with their long brass OF
silver mounted guns, Then more candles
aud n long array OF friends. In this way Is
the bride borne 70 her husbands home; nc
matter how far IL may he. In the box she
must remain TIL abe arrives there
Then the box Is lifted down TO the
threshold and the bridegroom's mother
comes with a bowl Of milk, loaf Of bread
and salt for the bride TO taste. The keys
are then delivered TO her. and the old lads
keeping Ia front Of the box. the bride
crawls out, crawls on TO her mother In
laws back and is carried TO the bridal
CHAMBER. there. still veiled. TO be locked ia
alone. The mother then delivers the key
Of the room 20 her son, who goes 10 unveil
and look for the first time on his BRIDE
London Graphic.
| NAuMry Of Disease,