Year: 1870

The Ceremony of the BetrOthai Oh


WN Bride. fafS


A correspondent of the Interior writes
from Greece:


We were watching, with great interest,
the dances of the peasant giss out ON
the level green, and commenting upon
the picturesque dresses OF the maldens
and men, when suddenly we perceived
they were all edging their way quietly of
toward particular dwelling that stood
near the sea. On inquiring, we learned
there was to be betrothal that after
moon, ceremony that, according to Gus
toms here, takes place few days before
marriage And we were very pleasantly
informed that it would not be considered
at all an intrusion if we, strangers as we
we're, should seek to be present. Or
course, we hurried on with the rest.


l. As we came out through the ruins,
standing upon the high slope of the hill,
the spectacle that suddenly flashed upon
us was singularly beautiful. fneyer saw
the water so exquisitely blue as it was
/ looking toward the Strait of Salmis; and
right between our outlook and the beach
ilay n half mile of rich greensward varie-
gated AT points with brown rocks jutting
through. The yellow sunlight lay almost
palpitating and palpable among the
1 grass. More than sixty or hundred
men and women, mostly maidens OF the
village, in holiday dresses, were throng-
ing the path leading to the white dwell
ing, or already wandering in compact
| little groups on the spaces around 1T
I'VE lost no time in joining them, and
soon reached the spot And before long
I a most courteous invitation was brought
us, that we should one and all enter it.
We found ourselves rising stairway
| in the presence of fifty or more guests,
7 male and female, in a long, narrow room.
( We were politely furnished with chairs,
/ but the others, we observed, sat on mats
around low tables ranged in two rows


along the length of the apartment, the
men on one side, the women on the other.
K They were at the moment partaking of
/ the feast They brought us several
| plates of bread and meat, and afterward


a resinous sort of wine. 1t was not only


palatable, but very good. And while we
continued eating, the clatter of Albanian
tongues filing the intervals of the
courses, two indefatigable musicians,
perched high on sort of divan, played
! lively music, a violin accompanied by
a kind of Tyre trummed ingeniously with
quill or reed. IA


Before long the bride came in, and
was sedateIy conducted to place at the
head of the company, where she re-
mained standing. IL is ungracious to
say she was not handsome; but then they
seem to have most absurd custom OF
keeping the young woman, who is IN her
most interesting situation, entirely silent.
She is actually not allowed to speak a
word for several days, and it is not
modest even to lift her eyes. Hence the
attitude in which she was retained was
mot advantageous, and | am bound to
saw she looked little demoraliZed
! among so many unchecked maidens
gracing her presence. After little, one
of the young men arose from his place
to bestow his bridal gift. He had two
or three silver coins strung on ribbon;
he came up bashfully and tied them
around her neck. Then he offered his
hand, the back of which she bent to
touch with her forehead, kissed 1T with
out looking up, and he retired. So they
all came, each IN turn, quietly but KIND
ly leaving their coins, tying them on
the first which hung dependent on her
breast. She made not the slightest ges-
ture of help, though one or two fumbled
good deal. But a most vivacious little
woman at her side did the honors in her
behalf, and was of essential aid when
ever an awkwardness became imminent.
We watched this most interesting cere-
mony for while, thinking how much
more sensible It is to give brides presents
in cash; then / was commissioned to bear
the benedictions of our party to her.
Among the coins which her husband re-
ceived, he no doubt discovered the Ma
poleo1 these fingers tied on; and among
the various remarkable memorials this
right hand will evermore bear is that of
the kiss an Albanian bride delivered,
about two inches below the ring finger
knuckle.