before she sets out on her journey, and, if so, it ac- companies tlie procession all the way. About midway between the homes of the bride and the groom the pro- cession stops in the street, while the important cere- mony of 7-eceicin(j the bride is formally transacted. The friends of the bride stand near each other, and at a lit- tle distance stand the friends of the groom. The for- mer produce a large red card, having the ancestral name of tlie bride's family written on it ; the latter produce a similar card bearing the ancestral name of the groom. Tliese they exchange, and each, seizing his own hands a la Chinow, bows towards the members of the other party. The two men in the front of the procession who carry the lanterns having the ancestral name of the groom now turn about, and, going between the sedan chair and the two men who carry the lanterns having the ancestral name of the bride, come back to their for- mer position in the procession, having gone around the party ^vhich has the lanterns with the bride's ancestral name attached. This latter party, while the other is thus encircling it, turns round in an opposite direction, and starts for the residence of the family of the bride, accompanied by that part of the escort which consisted of her brothers or the friends of her family. The rest of the procession now proceeds on its way to the resi- dence of the bridegroom, the band playing a lively air. At intervals along the street fire-crackers are exploded. It is said that, from the precise time when the two par- ties carrying lanterns having the ancestral names of the two families attached separate from each other in the street, the name of the bride is changed into the name of her betrothed ; the lanterns having his name attached remaining in the procession, while those which have her (former) name are taken back to the residence of her father's familj'. From this time during the day she generally is in the midst of entire personal strangers, excepting her female assistants, who accompany the pro- cession and keep with her wherever she goes. On ar- riving at the door of the bridegroom's house tire-crack- ers are let oif in large quantities, and the band plays ver\' vigorously. The torch-bearers, lantern-bearers, and the musicians stop near the door. The sedan is carried into the reception-room. The floor, from the place where the sedan stops to the door of the bride's room, is cov- ered with red carpeting, lest her feet should touch the Hoor. A woman who has borne both male and female children, or at least male children, and who li\-es in har- monious subjection to her husband, approaches the door of the sedan and utters various felicitous sentences. If she is in good pecuniary circumstances, and if her par- ents are living and of a learned family, so much the more fortunate. A boy six or eight years old, holding in his hands a brass mirror, with the reflecting surface turned from him and towards the chair, also comes near, and invites the bride to alight. At the same time the married woman who has uttered propitious words ad- vances as if to open the door of the sedan, when one of the female assistants of the bride, who accompanied the procession, steps forward and opens it. The married woman referred to and the boy are employed by the family of the groom, and receive a small present for tlieir services, wliich are considered quite important and ominous of good. The mirror held by the lad is ex- pected to ward off all deadly or pernicious influences which may emanate from the sedan. The bride is notv allied by her female assistants to alight. While being leil towards the door of her room, the sieve which had Iteen placed over the door of the bridal chair on its ar- rival is sometimes held over her head, and sometimes it is placed directly in front of the door of the sedan, so that, on stepping out, she will step into it.
" The groom, on the approach of the bridal proces- sion, disappears from the crowd of friends' and relatives v.'ho have assembled at his residence on the happy oc- casion, and takes his position standing bj' the side of the bedstead, having his face turned towards the bed. When tlie bride enters the room, guided by her assist-
ants, he tums aroimd, and remains standing with his face turned from the bed. As soon as she has reached his side, both bridegroom and bride simultaneously seat themselves side by side on the edge of the bedstead. Oftentimes the groom manages to have a portion of the skirt of her dress come under him as he sits down by her, such a thing being considered as a kind of omen that she will be submissive. Sometimes the bride is very careful, by a proper adjustment of her clothing at the moment of sitting down, not only to prevent the ac- complishment of such an intention on his part, but also to sit down, if possible, in such a manner that some of his dress will come under her, thus manifesting her de- termination to preserve a proper independence, if not to bring him actually to yield obedience to her will. Af- ter sitting thus in profound silence together for a few moments, the groom arises and leaves the room. He waits in the reception-room for the reappearance of his bride, to perform the ceremony called 'worshipping the temple' (q. v.). Until this time the bride has worn the heavy embroidered outside garment, head-clress, etc., which she had on when she entered her sedan. These are now removed. She has her hair carefully combed in the style of her class in society, and she is arrayed in her own wedding garments. Sometimes her hair is gorgeously decked out with pearls and gems, true or false, according to the ability of the family to purchase, rent, or borrow. When her toilet has been completed, and everything has been made ready, the bride and bridegroom sit down in her room to their wedding din- ner. He now, oftentimes for the first time in his life, and always for the first time on his marriage day, be- holds the features of his wife. He may eat to his fill of the good things provided on the occasion, but she, ac- cording to established custom, may not take a particle. She must sit in silence, dignified and composed.