Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-07
A KURDISH WEDDING
MISSIONARY TELLS OF QUEER
CUSTOMS IN PERSIA.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. April THAT the Kurds are
not entirely given over TO such bloodthirsty
pursuits as participation In the Armenian
massacres and other lawless enterprises
with which the name has been associated
Is proved by an account of Kurdish wed.
ding which has just reached here from T.
w. Mcdowell, missionary OF the foreign
mission board of the Presbyterian Church
in western Persia. Mr.. Mcdowell tells the
incident thus:
Il have been attending n wedding. Tamal
Agha, wealthy kurd, has taken. a bride
for his son STA Mahomet, and, along with
the governor, city officials, Kurdish aghas
and begs, was invited TO the festivities. In
front of the house band OF Atty young
Kurds in picturesque costume were dancing
to the pounding OF drum. Entering the
house. We were conducted to the guest room
where we, were received by the old Agha
lamar.
THE guest room was about 16x1S in size
well carpeted with Persian rugs. There
were three modern windows. set with glase
and capable of being opened. They were
however, sealed up air-tight, as 1t was a
warm day, and there was a stove In the
room not quite red hot. Besides the stove
there were fifty guests in the room, all OF
them, except the missionary, smoking. Per
haps you can imagine the atmosphere. The
stove was finally carried out not because OF
the heat, but to make room for the dane
ers.
These were young Kurds. handsome fell
lows, in flowing and highly colored gar
ments. They danced, sometimes one alone.
sometimes two or three together. Flirting
bright colored kerchiefs with the tips of his
fingers, the dancer first pastures with the
upper part of his body. and then, as the
ftrfn vii 10 ina
j slow measured tread of the feet. moving
in a circle about the room. One young man
gave q swords Vance He was a handsome
! fellow Eirh smiling lips. sparkling eyes and
daresdevile face, marred by scars which
suggested sword play of more serious sort.
Then there were Kurdish songs, of war
and of love.
Z These performances were kept-up, with
out interInission, for two hours. Then came
dinner. Servants brought In large pewter
trays which were set on low stools The
guests seated themselves the floor around
these trays, each one being supplied with
q large Turkish towel and a spoon. There
were ten courses, each brought in a hand
some metal dish. Without exception the
food was toothsome; meats and soups, veg
etables, preserves and sweetmeats, cooked
after a manner unknown to US and differ
emily served, but all delicious. There were
also sheep curds, cold art and delicious to
the taste, and bread which Is unsurpassed
in the world. 1t is thin as a wafer, thor
oughiy baked, crisp and with flavor all
its own. Some one will introduce 1t to
America some day and make his fortune.
Tea was served to us when we came,
and after dinner, the trays having been re-
moved and the guests seated comfortably on
the cushions, Turkish coffee was served in
dainty little cups. An American cannot but
be impressed with the complete lack of self
consciousness, embarrassment and aWk-
wardness in a gathering of this kind in an
out-of-t he-way mountain town of the kurds.
This was true of host and guests, dancers
and servants; everything was simple, hearty
and free. There were no women present
and the bride was not introduced at all. In
fact, she had not yet been brought from her
home. This was reserved for the second
day of the feast, the company going in pro-
oession to escort her to the home of her
husband.