Year: 1876

Marriage in Turkistan.


When boy reaches the age of fifteen
or sixteen, or sometimes when he is even
younger, his parents think it is time for
him to get married, and look about them
for suitable match. Nisalliances are
greatly disliked among the Sarts, and it
is desired that the family of the bride
should be equal to that of the BRIDE
groom. A Hodja, or descendant of Mo-
hammed, for example, can marry only a
Hodja's daughter, and among those of
good blood 1t is rare--fur the first wife, at
least-that any great inequality of birth
is allowed Girls are considered mar
riageable between eleven and fifteen,
and, although according to the strict
letter of the law girl ~ nine can be
married, it is not well looked upon in
Tashkent. The mother or sis
ter or some female relative of the youth
who is to be married, after having found
what appears to be suitable match, or
at all events girl who pleases the boy
himself or his parents, goes to the girls
family and discusses the advantages of
the marriage. The matchmaker is at
once asked how much kalim will be
given, and she in her turn is anxious to
know the amount of the dowry, as it is
desired that the kalim and dowry should
be nearly equal. 1t is commonly be-
lieved that the kalim, or money given by
the husband, goes to the father of the
wife, and that it is in the nature of pur-
chase money, but this is not correct; the
kalim is given to the wife herself, and it
remains her property, so that in case of
divorce from her husband she may have
something to fall back upon. When the
friend of the young man has carefully
looked at the bride and found out all
about her, she returns to the young man
and tells him about the appearance and
manners of his future wife. After the
presents have been given and received
the weddIng-day is fixed. The bride
then gives feast to her friends, and the
young man also gives feast to his COM
rades, each at their own houses. On the
day Of the marriage grand feast is held
at the house of the brides family, and all
the friends and relations of both parties
are invited, the women being in one
court and the men in the other. The
Mullah from the nearest mosque, or in
particular cases some distinguished saint
or Ishan, is invited to perform the cere-
mony The bride and bridegroom are
not present at the actual marriage eere-
mony, which is conducted for them by
their witnesses, who are in all cases male
relatives. The witness ON the part of
the woman is her father or uncle, or
some one of that generation, no other
person being allowed to act for her with
out special power of attorney to that
effect. If the bride should be a slave
in those countries where slavery is
allowed-lt is her master who acts as her
witness. The Mullah, who is in the
same room with the witnesses, asks them
if the persons whom they represent con-
sent to marry each other, and then in
quires what the kalim and dowry are,
and if they have been properly given; he
then recites prayer, giving praises to
the prophet and his descendants, draws
up the marriage contract, and repeats a
prayer, which is placed at its head;
/" Praise to God, who has allowed mar
riage, and has forbidden all adulterous
crimes; let all heavenly and earthly ex-
istences praise Mohammed and his pure
and honorable posterity." He then pro-
nounces the words: 81 have accom-


plished the marriage between a man and
a woman, a woman and man, according
to the power given to me by their wit
nesses, and in accordance with the con-
ditions set forth in this contract" I'm
mediately after he again says: "On be-
half of the husband and wife declare
consent to this marriage according to the
commissions given to the witnesses, and
the conditions expressed in this con-
tract" The Mullah and witnesses then
place their seals on the contract, ask the
assistance of Sod, and recite the fatha,
or first chapter of the Koran. The mar
riage contract is given to the wife or her
witnesses. The marriage fee is given by
the husband, and cannot be demanded
from the wife. The bridegroom then
goes to the apartment of the bride, but
is met at the door by her brother or some
relative, who does not permit MN to
enter until he gives him piece of
money or some small present. When he
has thus succeeded in obtaining admis-
sion he joins the bride, and remains
with her and all the other women. On
his entering, the bride is concealed
amidst group of women, among whom
he must find her hand before she can
come out. AS he has perhaps never
seen her, it is a somewhat difficult
matter. When feast is held, it usually
lasts all night; bonfres are lighted, and
refreshments are served The women GO
away in the morning after having re-
ceived their presents. The feast of the
men takes place in the outer court, and


they stay there until half the night ID
passed, when they receive their presents
and retire 1t is necessary at the same
time, also, to give aims either to the
mosque or to poor persons. At any time
the day after the husband is allowed tc
take his wife TO his own house, if he has
one, and, this done, the marriage is en-


tirely consummated. Eugene Schuyler


Book of TrGUeIs.