Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/170

136 all in wedding apparel—the men in red silk, the women in their best, their hands red with henna, their eyes painted with Kohl. The bride is put on a horse or a camel, with her bedding; a red silk gown is put on her, and a thick red veil for the Kése, a red and white one for the Yamén, over her face, whilst four black ostrich feathers stand at four corners upright on her head. A drawn sword is put into her hand, a young relative leads the camel, and in slow procession they move towards the house of the bridegroom. For grand processions the young men ride on horses, and fire, and gallop up and down round the bridal procession, the women singing and ululating. At the house of the bridegroom the young man leading the camel does not give her over till he has received his gift, $1⁄4$ or $1⁄2$ a lira, or a silk gown. Then the young men of her kindred ask for the "scapegoat of the youths," (Sha-et-el-Shabâb). This is either paid for or given, and many others ask. The uncle, the cousin, each wants his gift, and finally battles ensue between the young men of both parties, and, if they are from different villages, the battles are serious, with clubs and drawn swords. If the bride's party is stronger they exact as much as possible, if they cannot, they leave the bride after having cursed the bridegroom and his party for taking away the girl. Finally the bride is released, and the sword taken out of her hand, and handed to the bridegroom at the house-door, A jug of water is now placed on her head as a sign of complete submission to her husband. When she steps into the house she must "call on the name of God" as she passes over the lintel because the Jân live below. The bridegroom strikes the jug as she passes, throwing it down and breaking it. In the plains of Sharon and Philistia the bride has no ostrich feathers, but instead a cactus leaf, with three or four candles. The presents are carried in front of her to her new home. As she enters the house the veil is taken off her face, and her face is "embellished," (Muzawak), with gold and silver paper stuck all over it. The sleeves of the bride and bridegroom are now tied together, whilst one sleeve of the bride is spread out across her like a sack. The invited guests now come in, and, pressing coins of from 10 paras up to pounds to her forehead, let them drop into the sleeve below, saying: This in token of friendship to so-and-so,

The female relatives standing by carefully observe how large the gift is, and sing the praise of the giver according to his gift. Whilst this is going on the men shoot at marks at a distance of 60 to 100 paces—he who hits the mark is lauded in songs of praise by the women. Meanwhile some men are busy killing and cooking the sheep, or goats and rice, according to the number of guests and the wealth of the bridegroom. By evening the food is piled up in the battieh, or circular wooden dish, and put before the guests, six to twelve men squatting on the ground around one dish. They make large balls of rice with their hands and