Scenes and Adventures in AffghanistanTaylor, William
History
Scenes and Adventures in Affghanistan
Taylor, William
Afghan Wars; Afghanistan -- Description and travel
Leaving Shikarpoor, on the 27th of November, we arrived on the following
day at Sukkur Bukkur, a town situated on the banks of the Indus, and
having its citadel on a rock in the centre of the river. The cholera
rapidly disappeared here; but we sustained another loss in the person of
Lieutenant Janvrin, the acting Quarter-Master of our detachment, who
was carried off by the small-pox. On the opposite bank of the river lies
Roree, a village remarkable only for its manufactures, which consist
principally of silks. Several of us having obtained leave to visit the
place, we were strolling through the bazaar, when we observed
preparations for a wedding in progress. Taking up a position which
enabled us to see what was passing, without obtruding on the parties
concerned, we waited patiently until the ceremonies commenced. At the
expiration of about a quarter of an hour the bridegroom made his
appearance in front of the house which contained his betrothed, and both
in person and attire he was all that a native belle could have desired.
He was a fine, muscular looking fellow of about seven or eight and
twenty, with handsome features and bold and jaunty air. He was dressed
in a loose robe, of spotless white, and without any ornaments or
weapons whatsoever. Proceeding directly to the door of the house which
contained his Dulcinea he knocked at it three times with the knuckles of
his right hand and once with his left. He then threw himself prostrate
on a mat which had been made for the purpose, by the lady's own hands,
and there waited her coming forth. The door presently opened, and a
number of musicians immediately struck up a wild and discordant air. A
timid and pretty looking maiden, about fourteen years of age, showily
dressed in different coloured silks, and ornamented with a nose ring and
bangles of pure gold, at length stepped forth, followed by her relatives
and friends, who formed themselves into a circle around her. The
bridegroom starting to his feet made a formal claim to the hand of his
affianced and presented her with a garland of flowers, which she
gracefully threw across her shoulders, in token that she accepted him,
and then suffered him to embrace her. Lifting her in his arms he placed
her on the back of a donkey, and they went in procession to pay visits
of ceremony through the town, the bride distributing sweetmeats to the
crowd, as she passed along. The bridegroom showered his favours about in
the form of some red powder, which he flung in the faces of all near
him, and especially in those of the Europeans, of whom there were a good
many present. He half blinded some of us, and conferred as dark a hue as
his own upon others--freaks that appeared to give infinite delight and
amusement to the natives, but which were not taken in quite as good part
by some testy fellows amongst us. Having arrived at the house of the
bridegroom's father, the old gentleman graciously descended, and taking
the bride in his arms, bore her into his dwelling.
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