A MOHAMMEDAN MARRIAGE. 277 



sun'ounded by candles arranged at different heights 

 on rude triangular frames. He was dressed in a 

 Malay suit of light red, and wore a gilded chain. I 

 had been told that, when he should attempt to enter 

 the room where the bride sat waiting, the women 

 would gather and persistently dispute his right to 

 proceed, and here, in the distant East, I thought to 

 myself, I shall see an illustration of the maxim, 

 " None but the brave deserve the fair." On the con- 

 trary, so far from manifesting any disposition to op- 

 pose him and prolong the ceremony, they only made 

 Avay for him to enter the bridal-chamber as quickly 

 as possible. As my friend and I were the only white 

 persons present, we were allowed the especial favor 

 of entering: also. On one side of the room was a 

 small table covered with a red cloth, and on this were 

 two gigantic red wax-candles. Behind the table sat 

 the bride, arrayed in a scarlet dress, with a white 

 opaque veil concealing her face, and fastened to her 

 liair. As the bridegroom approached, she slowly rose. 

 Placing his hands with the palms together, he bowed 

 three times in the same manner as the Chinese ad- 

 dress the images in their temples. She returned the 

 salutation by also bowing three times, but without 

 raising her hands. Now came the exciting moment. 

 She remained standing while he stepj^ed forward and 

 commenced pulling out the pins that held fast the 

 opaque veil which hid her l)eauty from his longing 

 eyes. Not being very skilful in this operation, a 

 couple of the maids-in- waiting assisted him, and, by 

 degrees, was revealed a face that was at least one 

 shade darker than most of the ladies near her, and I 



