Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/138

 man, she neglects nothing that can tend to inflame love. If she pleases him, negotiations are carried on about her with her parents and friends, and should they be willing to give her to him, a certain day is appointed, when he declares the amount of the dower with which he endows her, and gives her various presents, and she, too, must say how much she brings him. All these things are inscribed in a book before the cadi, or judge.

When the wedding-day comes, the bridegroom previously sends a number of camels and mules, in proportion to the wealth of the bride, for her moveables and goods. All that she brings him is placed upon them, and carried to his house, covered with handsome carpets, and, should the families be wealthy, in red chests. When all is ready the bridegroom provides a wedding-feast, or breakfast, for his friends of the male sex in some other house, and for the women in his own, or that of his father. After breakfast the bridegroom and his friends mount their horses, the women seat themselves in carriages, and a handsome, gay-coloured, ambling jennet is sent for the bride, the mane of which is plaited with gold; this is furnished with a handsome saddle, and the requisite caparisons, to the utmost of the bridegroom’s means, and is led by a young man, while four others bear a handsomely embroidered canopy—the richer people employ none but eunuchs for this purpose—and a splendid procession is formed to fetch the bride. The bridegroom comes with trumpeters, drummers, and other music, to the bride’s house, dismounts from his horse, and enters the house among the guests. Then, after a little confectionary has been