The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-12-12

tired in her best, laden with all her
ornaments; over her clothing a red
silk gown is thrown, and a thick veil
covers her face according to the great
division to which they belong, the
white veil for the Yamen. The veil
being impenetrable she is led out of
the house and put on a camel load
ed with the bedding she receives
from her father The camel kneels
to receive the bride.
The camel is now led towards the
house of the bridegroom by some
male relative, followed by all relatives
and those invited, first the men and
the women, singing A group of
young men gather round a musician
having double-barreled flute, play
ing monotonous airs, whilst the men
clap their hands and closely follow
the bride. If the bride is destined
to neighboring village, the men of
both sides are we'll armed, and ready
to fight before giving over the bride.
More or less bloody battles often Oc-
cur, for everyone claims share from
the bridegroom.
When the procession has arrived at
it's destination the camel is made to
kneel down and the sword which the
bride held in her hand is now taken
away and handed to the bridegroom
waiting at the house door A jug
of water is now placed on her head
and she tries to enter without letting
the bridegroom touch the jug, whilst
ifC tT1GS 10 tlllO" IL ooNh "Ath |AN
sword. The jug represents complete
submission. She enters now the
house, calling upon the name Of God
Whatever she has received as pres
ents is carried by the women in the
procession and put into the house.
The veil is now taken off her face
and her face is embellished with gold
and silver paper stuck all over it,
The sleeves of the bride and bride
groom are now tied together, whilst
one sleeve of the bride is spread out
across her like sack The invited
all pass and congratulate the new
pair, at the same time pressing
coin to the head of the bride, letting
it go to fall into sleeve below.
The religious part of the ceremony
has passed unperceived to the uniniti-
ated. During the procession, whilst
some were galloping, firing or disput
ing their position, the mallah and
bridegroom and the nearest relative
cf the bri le have gone aside 50 far
away from indiscreet ears that moth
ing may be heard. In a low voice
the mallah asks the bridegroom if he
accepts so and so to be his female,
nd then, turning to the male rep
rcs.ntative of the bride, asks if she
accepts so and so for her male. When
both have assented they lay their
Ealds in each others and the mallah
SAYS the opening chapter of the Koran
and the two are legitimate man and
wife
A Muslin of either sex when dying
is turned with the face toward Nee
ca and if any strength or presence
Of mind be left, the dying person
says: 81 witness that there is but
one God, and that Mohammed is the
prophet of God' AS soon as he Or
she is dead. the mallah is called for
the man and the wife for the woman.
The corpse is wholly washed by one
OF the persons present with soap and
water and when all the issues have
been stopped with cotton, the corpse
IL wrapped in a shroud and wholly
sewed up. No woman may look at
the face of man after the burial
ablution. The same applies to a
man in the case of deceased woman.
When the body is washed it is clean
and ready for judgment The body
is carried by men on a litter or in a
carpet towards the mosque, where
they put it down, men chanting and
the mallah reading chapters of the
Koran They proceed to the ceme-
tery.
The grave is very shallow. The