Much ceremony takes place in preparing the intended bride on the evening before the wedding, of which I have been a witness. The poor girl either was, or appeared to be, a most unwilling victim. She was lying on cushions when I first entered, covered so as not to be seen, and surrounded by the girls who were her particular friends, the rest of the women attending less closely. The girls, at intervals, loudly lamented the loss of their companion, and she joined in the voice of woe. At length thewomen told her that it was time to commence the preparations.
In an instant the girls all seized her, and uttering loud cries, attempted to withhold her from the women, who, struggling against them, endeavoured to force her away. This scene lasted till the bride was near suffering seriously from their folly, for she fainted from continued exertion, and the heat of the crowd ; but this may be said to have ended the contest, for they were obliged to give room and air for her to revive, and some little time after she had recovered, the women took formal possession of their new associate. They then began to dye her fingers, her toenails, and afterwards her hair, which being tied up, she at last was left to repose. During the whole time I was there, she would not shew her face; and in general I have observed, that ifone tells a Tatar girl that it is said she is about to be married, she runs immediately out of the room, and will never speak to a strangeron that subject.
The share which the priest has in the ceremony, is, I believe, very slight : he attends the house of the bride's father, and asks at her window, whether she consents to the marriage. If she answers in the affirmative, he says some short ejaculatory prayer, blesses the couple in the name ofthe prophet, and retires. For this he receives a present of considerable value ; a horse, or a sheep, or money.
The principal ceremony takes place on the day when the bride is brought home to her husband's house ; and the chief visitors are then invited. Eating, drinking, and dancing to the music ofa drum and bagpipes, form the greatest part of the entertainment, till the cavalcade sets out to meet the bride. She is always met at the frontiers of the estate on which the bridegroom resides, all the guests attending, and conducting the lady to her future dwelling.
The party, when on the road, forms a gay and lively concourse, in which he, who in England would be called the happy man, is the only person who has not the appearance of being cheerful. Apparelled in his worst suit ofclothes, with unshaven face, and perhaps badly mounted, he rides where he is least conspicuous, while a friend has the charge of leading another horse* for him, which is always richly caparisoned. When the party attending the bride is arrived at the place of meeting, the mother, or some duennawho has the superintendance of the business, first makes a present of value to the person who leads the horse, which, if it be a shawl, ,as is generally the case, is tied round the neck of the animal. Afterwards, many small handkerchiefs coarsely embroidered, and little pieces of linen, or of coarse printed cotton, are distributed, for which the guests contend in horse-races. * At the wedding of Afsoot Tchelebi this was a handsome Circassian horse, for which he gave five hundred rubles; the saddle and trappings cost three hundred more.
This occupies much time, and during the whole of it, the carriage which contains the bride waits at the distance of nearly half a mile. It is never brought nearer to the party, but the lady's father, or one of her brothers, attends it, in order to see the charge safelyexecuted of delivering her unseen into the house of her husband.