The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-04
a CAIRO Marriage.

At Cairo the bride is conducted on foot
70 her new home. walking under a square
tent or canopy o. silk Of some gay coiors.
such as PINK and yellow. carried b. four
men By means OF poles az the corners.
Her ng1re : completely euve3oped n a
red cashmere shawl. and supported or
ether side by a matrou- The procession
: headed BY musicians, after them, walk
some couples OF woguea and young girls
az shrouGed. the former ia black and the
latter IN white silk haSarshs. IN the cen
Ter IS the CANOPY. ard the rear IS brought
up by attendants and more musicians
The procession invariably tUrns 20 the
right on leaving the house. generally TAX
ing circulrCus route through several ~
me principal streets for the sake OF great
Ct display. and dsvotiug three or four
hours 10 tHe journey
Towards evening The bridegroom IS con-
Quoted BY his friends 70 the bath, and
afterwardsto the mosque - the hour
Of the fifth namaz- II he Is young man.
and This Is MS tirsl wedding he may.
ike the bride. b honored win 4 zeFTch
or procession, on this occasion. ard goes
20 the mosque accompanied by a numer-
Gus party, and attended by musicians
and men bearing meshals or CresSsts fls-
ed with pitch pine chips. The imam ac-
companies him home. and. arrived AZ he
door Of his dwelling. pronounces q beue-
dicton. al present joining in the refrain
Of Amin, amin The Bridegroom en-
tertains his friends while in the se5amllk,
and then. leaving them 70 the enjoyment
OF their pipes and coffee. he proceeds 20
the women's apartments. II he be young
II is considered proper for him On smu-
late az least some degree Of bashfuluess
a. meeting his unknown bride. and two
Ct his friends perhaps carry him haif way
. the haremiik, or push him through
is doorway with smart blows on the back
throwing after him with 10 gentle hand
some OF the overshoes always 20 be found
II the aEte-roorn Of a Turkish konak.
As the happy man proceeds up stairs
he comes upon a bowl az water. which
he upsets with his foot. scattering the
contents in all directions. As he enters
the nupSial apartment the bride rises and
salutes him by kissing his hand veil
has been thrown over her head. and the
bridegroom, a he removes it. gives her
a present Of money or Jewels. which is
termed the price Of the uucoverin- ot the
face He then spreads the veil on The
floor and kneels on IL while he reCites
prayer. the bride standing meanwhile
behind him on its edge The couple are
then seated side by side on the -Givan
while the old attendant shows them in
mirror the reflection OF their united
faces, uttering at the same time con-
their happiness. After serving them with
coffee. this mistress OF the ceremonies
leaves the pair 20 make each others ac-
quaintance while she sUperintends the
preparations for their supper. The hour
Of this meal depends. however. on the
humor OF the bride whose shyness or Oh
sttnacy must be overcame % the extent
at least Of making her speak to her hus-
band before he can assume any authority
over her. Brides are generally advised
by experienced matrons not 10 respond zoo
readily 20 the advances OF their bride
grOOms, who are. indeed. occasionally
compelled 70 resort TO StrateCem IN order
TO break the magic spell Of silence. A
word once ELECTED. the happy man claps
mis- hands. and the koulavcuz brings IN
supper. which consists IF eggs. sweets.
and fruits beat being excluded from this
meal. in the belief that 20 indulge in II
on this solemn occasion would lead 90
future chickering's between the couple.
Public festivities are meanwhile coHtiD-
ued in both the haremlik and soramlik 81
the house. at which al the brides party
are Observation-Disclosures Woman.