El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20
Are Spinsters After Eighteen
Egyptian Girls Marry ~ Early
as Il and Seldom After They
Are is Years Old.
BY Madison c. Peters.
|, MONG the modern Egyptians

MONG the modern Egyptians
n many girls marry as early as Il
4 - or 10 years Of age and seldom
later than 'l6 years of age. The mothers
or near female relatives OF the young
man usually arrange matters and direct
his choice. Somstimes he employees
kaatbeh-a woman who makes a reg
uIar business of helping men to 1lnd
suitable wives.
Until girl is about 10 or IA years
old her parents may marry her to WnOm
they please, without her consent, but
after that age she may choose her nus
band and appoint some one to arrange
her marriage.
Selecting a Bride.
When the young man has decided
whom he wishes to marry he goes with
two or three friends to her ''Wekeel'
or deputy, and, having gained his con-
sent he asks what doWry he must give.
Among the well-to-do-th usual amount
is about SIPS, but the wealthy count
the dOwry IN purses of about $zO each
and give ten or more purses.
on the appointed day the bridegroom
with a few friends goes to the brides
home taking with him part of the
dowry which he had promised to pay
at this time. They are received by the
brides "wekeeP' and few of her
friends. as there must be two witnesses,
generally MOslems, to the contract. All
recite the "Fathah"-the opening
chapter of the Koran, and the bride
groom pays the money. The contract
ceremony is now performed. The bride
groom and the brides "wekeep' sit face
to face. with one knee on the ground,
cIasping right hands, with thumbs
raised and pressed against each other.
Sch0olmaster Is Hired.
A schoolmaster is generally hired to
tell them what to say. After placing a
handkerchief over their ciasped hands
he generally begins with a Few re-
marks on the advantages of marriage
and with questions. from the Koran.
The brides "wekeep must then say that
he marries the young man, So and SO.
tO-(naming the brtde) for doWry OF
certain amount to which the bridegroom
replies: IT accept from thee her mar
rage to myself, take her under my
care and bind myself to protect her; and
We who are present bear witness of
this" This is repeated three times, al
ter which all present again recite the
Fathah.
The young man generally waits for
his bride eight or ten days after the
contract ceremony, during which time
he sends her presents and she and her
family are busy preparing her trous-
seau and furniture, which is usually
bought with the dowry.
Goes in state to Bath.
At noon the Wednesday beforet Cor
Saturday if the wedding is TO conclude
state to the bath The procession is
headed by musicians.
The next day the bride, with the
same procession, goes to the bride
groom's house, where they have feast,
after which her friends depart, leaving
only her mother and sister or other
near female relative and one or two
other women.
The AFIight.v
The next morning dancers, men and
women, perform before the bridegrOom's
house and the same day, if he is
young man, the one who carried him
upstairs takes him and few friends
into the country 10 spend the day This
is called "the flight" If he belongs to
the lower classes he is brought back
in q procession headed by musicians, his
friends each carrying a bunch of flow
ers.