Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/315

 Marriage Customs of the Bedti and Fellahin. 277

presents in addition. Many stories are related of love-lorn Bedu who have ruined themselves by high payments on such an occasion.

Two young people, deciding to marry, must announce their views to their respective fathers. A straight path to any object being unknown in the East, the father of the youth employs a spokesman whom, with other friends, he accompanies to the father of the maiden, and who, possibly to forestall a rebuff, opens up transactions, rather unfairly, in some such terms as these, — " This maiden, thy daughter, is in the habit of running after this youth the whole day, from the moment he drives out the herd. Her soul is in him, and his soul in her."

The father will probably reply, — " If her soul dwells in him and his soul dwells in her, I shall not separate soul from soul. Listen to what she herself has to say. In case she wishes to take him I shall give her, and blessing shall go with her and guide her."

The maiden herself is now visited by the intermediaries, and, if she gives her consent, she is begged to authorise someone to act on her behalf. The same process is repeated with regard to the youth, and, everyone having agreed on both sides, the real business begins.'' The two spokesmen, with the friends of the youth and maiden, adjourn to the tent of the girl's father to consider the financial aspect of the case. The price of a virgin is double that of a divorced woman or widow. If the suitor belongs to a small tribe, or is of inferior rank, he will be expected to pay in proportion to the advantages he gains by the alliance. The daughter of a Shech will command a considerable addition in camels. Doughty relates that the bride-price in the districts which he visited is very rarely

^The terms of the enquiry are interesting as a historical vestige. The spokesman asks, in either case, — "Wilt thou take M. (or N.) the son (or daughter) of. . .," naming his (or her) mother. Cf. the Psalmist's "I am thy servant and the son of thine handmaid."