The Bride Was Brought With Her Female Friends
And Relations, From Her Native Village, One Day's Journey Distant, With
Two Camels Decorated With Tassels, Bells, &C., And Was Lodged With Her
Relations In Aaere.
They entered the village preceded by women beating
the tamborine, and by the village youths, firing off their musquets.
Soon afterwards the bridegroom retired to the spring, which was in a
field ten minutes from the village, where he washed, and dressed himself
in new clothes.
He then entered the village mounted on a caparisoned
horse, surrounded by young men, two of whom beat tamborines, and the
others fired musquets. He alighted before the Sheikh's house, and was
carried for about a quarter of an hour by two men, on their arms, amidst
continued singing and huzzaing: the Sheikh then exclaimed, "Mebarek el
Aris" [Arabic], Blessed be the bridegroom! which was repeated by all
present, after which he was set down, and remained till sunset, exposed
to the jests of his friends; after this he was carried to the church,
where the Greek priest performed the marriage ceremony, and the young
couple retired to their dwelling. The bridegroom's father had
slaughtered several lambs and kids, a part of which was devoured by mid-
day; but the best pieces were brought in three
[p.299]enormous dishes of Bourgul to the Sheikh's Medhafe; two being for
the mob, and the third for the Sheikh, and principal men of the village.
In the evening paras were collected by one of the bridegroom's friends,
who sung verses in praise of all his acquaintance, every one of whom,
when named, was expected to make a present.
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