IMARKIAGE, Heathen, Under this head, as being most akin to the ancient Hebrew, and perhaps best rep- resenting the general type of Oriental matrimony, we begin with —
I. Mohammedan, — The following description of this (condensed from Lane's Modern Egyptians) applies es- pecially to Cairo, but wiU serve for a general illustration in most Moslem countries. To abstain from marrying when a man has attained a sufHcient age, and when there is no just impediment, is esteemed by the Egyp- tians improper, and even disreputable. Oriental females arrive at puberty much earlier than the natives of colder climates. Many marry at the age of twelve or thirteen years; few remain unmarried after sixteen years of age. An Egyptian girl at the age of thirteen, or even earlier, may be a mother. It is very common among the Arabs of Egypt and of other countries, but less so in Cairo than in other parts of Egypt, for a man to marry his first cousin. In this case the husband and wife con- tinue to call each other " cousin ;" because the tie of blood is indissoluble, but that of matrimony very preca- rious. Most commonly the mother, or some other near female relation of the youth or man who is desirous of obtaining a wife, describes to him the personal and other qualifications of the young women with whom she is acquainted, and directs his choice ; or he emploj-s a woman whose regular business it is to assist men in suc<Ji cases. The parents may betroth their daughter to whom they please, and raarrj^ her to him witliout her consent
if she be not arrived at the age of puberty, but after she has attained that age she may choose a husband for herself, and appoint any man to arrange and effect her marriage. In the former case, however, the relations of a girl sought in marriage usually endeavor to obtain her consent to the proposed union. The bridegroom can scarcely ever obtain even a surreptitious glance at the features of his bride until he finds her m his abso- lute possession, unless she belong to the loAver classes of society ; in which case it is easy enough for him to see her face. When a female is about to marry, she should have a deputy to settle the compact and conclude the contract for her with her proposed husband. If she be under the age of puberty this is absolutely necessary ; and in this case her father, if living, or (if he be dead) her nearest ad\dt male relation, or a guardian appointed by will or by the magistrate, performs the office of dep- uty ; but if she be of age she appoints her own deputy, or may even make the contract herself, though this is seldom done. After a youth or man has made choice of a female to demand in marriage, on the report of his female relations, and, by proxy, made the preliminary arrangements before described with her and her rela- tions, he repairs, with two or three of his friends, to her deputy. Having obtained consent to the imion, if the intended bride be under age, he asks what is the amount of tlie required dowry. The giving of a dowry is indis- pensable. It is generally stipidated that two thirds of tlie dowrj' shall be paid immediately before the mar- riage-contract is made, and the remaining third held in reserve, to be paid to the wife in case of divorcing her against her own consent, or in case of the husband's death. This affair being settled, and confirmed by all persons present reciting the opening chapter of the Ko- ran, an early day (perhaps the day next following) is appointed for paying the money, and performing the ceremony of the marriage-contract ; but it is very sel- dom the case that any document is written to confirm the marriage, unless the bridegroom is about to travel to another place, and fears that he may have occasion to prove his marriage where witnesses of the contract cannot be procured. Sometimes the marri,age-contract is concluded immediately after the arrangement respect- ing the dowry, but more generally a day or two after. On the day appointed for this ceremony the bridegroom, again accompanied by tAvo or three of his friends, goes to the house of the bride, usually about noon, taking with him that portion of the do^vry which he has prom- ised to pay on this occasion. It is necessary that there be two witnesses (and those must be Moslems) to the marriage-contract, unless in a situation where witnesses cannot be procured. All persons present recite the same chapter of the Koran, and the bridegroom then pays the money. After this the marriage-contract is performed. It is very simple. The bridegroom and the bride's dep- uty sit upon the ground face to face, with one knee upon the ground, and grasp each other's right hand, raising the thumbs, and pressing them against each other. A schoolmaster is generally employed to instruct them what they are to say. Having jilaced a handkerchief over their closed hands, he usually prefaces the words of the contract with a few words of exhortation and praj'er, with quotations from the Koran and Traditions, on the excellency and advantages of marriage. He then desires the bride's deputy to say, " I betroth [or marry] to thee my daughter [or the female who has ajipointed me her deputy], such a one [naming the bride], the virgin [or the adult virgin], for a doivry of such an amount." (The words " for a dowTy," etc., are sometimes omitted.) The bridegroom says, '"I accept from thee her betrothal [or marriage] to myself and take Jier un- der my care, and bind myself to afford her my protec- tion ; and ye who are present bear witness of this." The deputy addresses the bridegroom in the same manner a second and a third time, and e,ach time the latter replies as before. They then generally add, " And blessing be on the apostles, and praise be to God, the Lord of all creat-