THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



145 



cassian women," said Petchorin to me. " Have a lit- 

 tle patience," said I, smiling, and keeping my thoughts 

 to myself. 



There was a great concourse already assembled in 

 the prince's house. It is the custom, you are aware, 

 among the Asiatics to keep open house for all comers on 

 these occasions. They received us with all possible 

 marks of respect, and led us into the guest chamber ; 

 but first I took care to notice privately where they put 

 our horses, in case anything should happen, you know. 



L. What are their marriage ceremonies ? 



M. Nothing very remarkable. First, the mollah 

 reads something out of the Koran, then presents are 

 made to the young couple, and to all their relations ; 

 they eat, they drink busa ; the zhi ghitofka begins, 

 and there is always some greasy rogue mounted on a 

 lame old rip of a horse, to amuse the worshipful com- 

 pany with his grotesque capers, and his jokes. By and 

 by, when it grows dark, the ball, as we should call it, 

 begins. An old beggar strums upon a three stringed 

 instrument I forget what they call it ; the lads and 

 lasses stand up in two rows opposite each other, clap 

 hands and sing. A girl and a young man then step 

 into the middle space, and sing alternate verses, just 

 whatever comes into their heads, and the rest join in 

 chorus. Petchorin and I were seated in the place of 

 honor, and all of a sudden, our host's youngest daugh- 

 ter, a girl about sixteen, stepped up to my friend, and 

 8 



