El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-30

to their cousins in order to keep the
family property intact and in such
cases she will not have spoken to him
since childhood, except in the family
circle and she is not allowed 70 visit
at his house. They are not supposed
to see each other at all until the for
nal betrOthai before the mulla and
then the girls face is so powdered and
painted-even her eyes being painted
that it is impossible to see what she
really looks like, and she must go
through the ceremony in absolute si-
lence.
A wedding among the smart settlers
may last five days and nights, or even
a week. during which the women ar
rayed in their most elaborate dresses
and all their jewels, sip eherbets and
syrupy tea, smoke cigarets and gossip
to the tongues length Meanwhile,
the poor little bride, Of whom no no
tice is taken, sits apart, in silence,
with head bent and her chadar or
cloak, drawn over her face Her eye
broWs are widened with indigo, over
which is a line OF gold leaf and tiny
flowers are painted with indigo on
her cheek bones, chin and throat The
guests present her with Jewels. sugar
loaves, Ornamented with gold Leaf or
big sugar candy bowls.
bridegroom Comes
In the midst of the singing and dane
ing the cry is raised, Behold the
+. bridegroom comes" And every one,
bride, musicians. dancers and servants,
rush pellmeu into an inner rOOm-
screened by curtains, through which
they peep to see the bridegroom and
his friends. who come there to eat
, sweet meats The bridegroom sits
I in state in 6 chair, while slaves bring
/ him and his friends with refreshments.
( This ceremOniOus visit lasts about half
an hour and after his departure the
women rush back to the room
On the last day of the wedding, the
( bride, who has had no part in the fes-
{ tivities, is taken by her nearest rela-
tiveS TO a private bath where her face
and eyebrows are freshly rouged and
painted. after which she is taken to
J the guest room, where all the women
{ rise and hold a copy of the Koran over
I her head for luck and also a mirror, to
Z double the length Of her life.
Her dowry which has been placed
: on wooden trays, is carried By portcrs
( to her new home and she is then ready
! to follow
After kissing the hearthstone Of her
old home, carrying bread. salt, and q
: piece of gold for luck, she is lifted
! closely yelled on to a large donkey.
! Accompanied by two slaves. on small
( donkeys, and q crowd of friends. she
/ proceeds to the house where her hus-
/ band awaits her.
{ Must obey Man.
/ Another saying of the Pcrsians is,
THE sod of woman is a man. therefore
all women must obey man." and this
/ they certainly put into practice.
I Women are considered inferior beings,
born to submit their rule. and hus-
D band has the right to forbid wife
to visit her own parents, therefore the
J bride generally passes from the pa
rental yoke TO the much heavier one
/ OF ihn husband and ruothcriulayy COM
3 biued.
Z Mohamucd. i'm the koran saws that
! God having given men dominion over
{ women. husbands may punish their
{ wives of the latter are disobedient. and
! therefore wifc beating lis not unusual
! A hcnpecked husband is almost UNI
heard of and an unfaithful wife is put
/ TO death by being forced to take poison.
while no inconvsnient questions are
I asked as TO her sudden exit.