St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-06-14
A Cairo rlarriage.

At Cairo the bride is conducted on foot
to her new home, walking under square
tent or canopy of silk OF some gay colors,
such as pink and yellow, carrird by four
men by means of poles at the corners.
Her figure is completely enveloped in
red cashmere shawl, and supported on
either side by matron. The procession
is headed by musicians; after them,
walk some couples of women and young
girls all shrouded, the former in black
and the latter in white silk habarahs.
In the center is the canopy, and the rear
is brought up by attendants and more
musicians. The procession invariably
turns to the right on leaving the house,
generally taking a circutous route
through several of the principal streets
for the sake of greater display, and de-
voting three or four hours to the journey.
Towards evening the bridegroom is
conducted by his friends to the bath and
afterwards to the mosque at the hour of
the fifth namaz. If he is a young man,
and this is his first wedding, he may, like
the bride, be honord with zeffeh, or
procession, on this occasion, and goes to
the mosque accompanied by numerous
party, and attended by musicians and
men bearing meshals, or cressets filled
with pitch pine chips. The imam accom-
panes him home, and, arrived at the door
of his dwelling, pronounces a benedic-
ton, all present joining in the refrain Of
Amin, amin The bridegroom enter
tains his friends awhile in the selamlik,
and then, leaving them to the enjoyment
oftheir pipes and coffee, he proceeds to
the women's apartments. If he be
Young, it is considered proper for him to
simulate at least some degree of bashful-
ness at meeting his unknown bride, and
two of his friends perhaps carry him half
way to the haremlik, or push him through
its doorway with smart blows on the
back, throwing after him with no gentle
hand some OF the overshoes always to
be found IN the ante-room of Turkish
konak.
As the happy man proceeds upstairs
he comes upon bowl OF water, which
he upsets with his foot, scattering the
contents in all directions. As he enters
the nuptial apartment the bride rises and
sautes him by kissing his hand. A veil
has been thrown over her head, and the
bridegroom, as he removes it, gives her a
present of money or jewels, which is
termed "the price of the uncovering of
the face" He then spreads the veil on
the floor and kneels on it while he rectes
prayer. the bride standing meanwhile
behind him on its edge. The couple are
then seated side by side on the dvan,
while the old attendant shows them in
mirror the reflection OF their united
faces, uttering at the same time conven-
tlonally exaggerated good wishes for
their happiness. After serving them with
coffee, this mistress OF the ceremonies
leaves the pair to make each others &C.
quantance while she superintends the
preparations for their supper. The hour
OF this meal depends, however, on the
humor of the bride, whose shyness or
obstinacy must be overcome to the ex-
tent at least of making her speak to her
husband before he can assume any au-
thority over her. Brides are generally
advised by experienced matrons not to
respond too readily to the advances OF
their bridegrooms, who are, indeed, occa-
slonaly compelled to resort to stratagem
in order to break the magic spell of ST.
lence. a word once elected. the happy
man claps his hands, and the koulavouz
brings in supper, which consists of eggs,
sweets, and fruits, meat being excluded
from this meal, in the belief that to in
dulge in it on this solemn occasion would
lead to future chickering's between the
couple. Public festivities are meanwhile
continued in both the haremlik and
Seramlik of the house, at which all the
Or brides party are entertained.-[E English
Woman.