The ceremonies they use in their marriages and weddings are as
follow:--When a young man likes a maiden, he commonly proposes it to
their parents and relations on both sides; and after he has obtained
their consent, he gets two or more old women to fetch the bride (and if
he is a stout fellow, he will fetch her himself). They go to the place
where the young woman is, and carry her away by force; for though she
ever so much approves of the match, yet out of modesty she must make as
if it went against the grain, and as if she was much ruffled at it; else
she will be blamed and get an ill name, as if she had been a love-sick
wench. After she is brought to the house of the bridegroom, she keeps
for some time at a distance, and sits retired in some corner, upon the
bench, with her hair dishevelled, and covering her face, being bashful
and ashamed. In the mean while the bridegroom uses all the rhetorick he
is master of, and spares no caresses to bring her to a compliance with
his ardent wishes; and the good girl being at length persuaded and
prevailed with, yields kindly to his ravishing embraces; and then they
lie down together, and so the wedding is over. But sometimes they take a
shorter way to go to work, which is to gratify their inclinations
without the advice or consent of the parents[34]. Nevertheless their
matrimony is not of so indissoluble a nature but that the husbands often
repudiate and put away their wives, if either they do not suit their
humours, or else, if they are barren and do not bring forth children
(which they hold to be very ignominious), and marry others. But if they
have children by them, they bear a great deal with them, and keep them
for life. It is not rare to see that a man beats his wife, and gives her
black eyes, for her obstinacy and stubbornness sake; however they are
soon reconciled and good friends again, without bearing any grudge. For,
according to them, it signifies nothing, that a man beats his wife; but
they do not like that a master should drub a servant maid. Likewise they
think it heinous that a mother chastises her children; and if she falls
foul of her maid, it is with them unpardonable; and such a woman gets an
ill name.
If one of the party dies, the relict, whether husband or wife, is at
liberty to marry again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account