BULGARIA 



4-39 



and they seldom seek divorce. 

 An old maid is absolutely un- 

 known among the Mohammedans 

 in Turkey. The preliminary 

 negotiations for marriage are 

 undertaken for the young people 

 by their parents. The dowry is 

 given by the bridegroom, the 

 bride being expected merely to 

 furnish her outfit. The husband 

 has no right over his wife's 

 property. The Turk has only 

 to say, " Cover thy face; thy 

 neJcyah [marriage contract] is in 

 thy hands," when she ceases to 

 be his wife and must leave his 

 house instantly. Her dwry still 

 remains to her, and this is a safe- 

 guard against hasty divorce. The 

 marriage contract is religious as 

 well as civil, and is made verbally. 

 When concluded, the bride and 

 bridegroom are not allowed to see 

 each other till after the duhun, 

 or celebration of the wedding 

 feast, which may extend over a 

 few weeks or even months. No 

 messages or communications of 

 any kind are allowed to pass 

 between the wedded pair. When 

 at length the duhun is ended, 

 they meet possibly for the first 

 time. 



The Moslem regards the 

 approach of death with stoical indifference. Kismet (destiny) and edjel (which means the time 

 of death) are decreed unchangeably by Allah. The dying man appears perfectly resigned to 

 his fate, which no power can alter. The Turks do not keep their dead long unburied. 

 The eyelids of the corpse are pressed down and the chin bandaged. The body is then undressed 

 and laid on a bed called the "couch of comfort," with the hands stretched by the side and 

 the feet tied together. A veil is then laid over the body; and if it be that of a man, it is 

 carried on a stretcher into the court-yard to be washed. This is a religious ceremony, and i& 

 performed by an Imam and two subordinates. The lower part of the body is kept covered, 

 and it must be handled with great care and gentleness, otherwise those engaged may draw 

 upon themselves the curse of the dead. 



Photo by P. Sebah] 



[Constantinople. 



A MONTENEGRIN. 



BULGAEIA. 



THE Bulgarians are found not only in Bulgaria proper, lying between the Danube and the 

 Balkan Mountains, but also in Eastern Kumelia, south of the Balkans. Since 1885 the two 

 provinces have been united, and Eastern Kumelia is now known as South Bulgaria. The total 

 population is 3,376,467. 



Although they speak a Slavonic tongue and are now ranked among the Slavonic peoples > 



