The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-05

classes, every one arose shook hands with
him, and the march was begun for the
brides home. Our carriage was placed
next to the one containing the happy
young man. and with him we equally di-
vided the attention of the groups on the
corners, who were expecting to see only
the relatives of the groom and Cingalese
followers of Buddha.
For four miles along the beach of the In
dian ocean, through cocoanut and palm
groves, and along the cinnamon gardens,
we moved slowly, until suddenly there
burst upon our ears the noise of many
voices and clatter of the tom-tom, and
our carriages were surrounded by the rel
atives of the bride, who gave evidence of
their joy by the indescribable movement
of their bodies and heads and the clapping
A white cloth was stretched over several
hundred yards from the door of the house,
white canopies were held aloft by gayly
dressed young women; the father, uncles,
brothers and other male relatives of the
bride came forward in stately procession;
several tom-toms, each surrounded by five
vigorous persons, gave forth the most ex-
cruciating music; the female relatives of
the bride from near and far, dressed, if
possible, more remarkable than the fe-
males of the other house, gathered in the
front rooms, and, after the bride had been
adorned in a loose jacket brought her by
the bridegroom, which was placed over
her other bridal attire, she was led in,
and for more than an hour she sat upon
an elevated seat, made for the purpose,
in the center of the roonl-the bashful If
of curious eyes.
The girl bride had just passed her four
teenth year; her white satin costume fitted
not much better than the clothes of Eng
fish women; her poor, cramped feet looked
little at ease in the white slippers, and her
long bridal veil with the price tag still
on II, was fastened to her jet-black hair
with silver pins and white, red, and pink
flowers, and hung gracefully over her
hazel-brown face.
After the scrutinizing process was over
and all the members of the two houses had
examined her from every point of view, the
bride was helped from her chair by the
married women of the groom's house, and
she was soon standing with her lover on a
raised mat, covered with white CLOTH in
the large middle room, in the immediate
presence of her maternal uncles.
The marriage ceremony, according to the
religion OF Buddhas was commenced by the
senior uncle parts qf It were repeated by
couple were tied together with white cord
over which was poured cold water; the
cords were united, and the groom placed
two rings on the brides finger, and she
put two rings on his. The gray-haired ia
Their of the groom then waved over the
pair tray containing lighted tapers, and
the Buddhist ceremony was closed with
words of advice to the new-made husband
and wife, and with the announcement
that presents were in order.
The young husband presented to his wife
a satin dress and jacket, which were put
on her publicly by two women. The brides
father gave to his son-in-law a pile of
rupees "a rupee is ABOUT ~ cents OF our
money! which were counted, and the
amount-6O6-was announced, and a tract
of land as dover, and then smaller pres
ents followed.
After a general Misunderstanding. which
was the only mode of congratulation, the
procession moved off toward the office of
the registrar, where the record of the mar
rage was made according to English laws
A proposition that l made, through my
interpreter, to have photograph taken
of the bridal party, was agreed to most
heartily connie ud of ha
grooms house in the afternoon an
oblging. photographer secured excellent
views of the merry crowd AS / was bid
ding farewell to them a cousin of the
bridegroom, to whom 1 had been speak
ing of certain CUSTOMS in America, said
to me in broken English 81 have fixed 1t
for you, If you like to give kiss to the
bride. Would you like?" / shall not give
to the public nv renlYi