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166 meet the bride, as might be supposed, but finds that she has likewise been arrayed in her wedding costume, which has been hired for the occasion, and is now ready to be carried to his home. Did I say carried? Yes, and that is the word, since she will be literally carried by men who have been hired for this purpose. She will be carried in a closed chair which will completely hide her from the view of mortal eyes. This chair is carried by two or four men, according to the wealth of the family. A tiger's skin is often spread over the chair, which is the mark of rank and royalty; so that this poor middle-class girl may be allowed to use the marks of royalty on this one day in her poor life. In this chair she will be carried to the home of the groom, where the marriage takes place. There is no official or priest required to perform the ceremony; but in the presence of the parents and such friends as may have been invited (these consist mostly of married women; unmarried girls are not allowed to be present), the bride is led forth. Yes, literally led forth, and, I might add, "as a sheep to the slaughter," for she has no sort of clear conception of what is before her. The groom takes his place on a piece of matting and stands erect, while the go-between or other woman leads out the bride. This is his first sight of her, and he does not see her now, for she has so much powder on her face that he cannot see her. Let me say just here that the art of powdering the face has been reduced to perfection in this country, and those of our sisters in Christian America who insist on keeping up this heathen custom should