26 NUPTIAL PROCESSION. 



night. When it became dark the group around 

 the dancers assembled with lighted torches of 

 pine wood, and the effect of the scene was singu- 

 larly wild and picturesque. 



Last night a Hadgi came here to lodge ; the 

 people seemed to pay much respect to his pilgrim 

 character, feeding him well, and vieing in little 

 attentions to him. 



Thursday, 27th. In spite of the rain, and 

 finding it would be cruel to exclude the bride- 

 groom longer from his friends, we prepared to 

 start this morning. Before we started, the 

 nuptial procession left the village for that in 

 which the intended bride resided. First went 

 the musicians on foot as before ; then followed 

 three elderly riders in handsome robes, mounted 

 on spirited horses ; then came three camels and 

 an ass laden with presents, consisting of firewood, 

 carpets, &c., for the bride, with their attendants ; 

 after the ass a man dragged along a goat tied 

 by the horns, and the rear was brought up by 

 a Turk, whose office seemed to be to fire off a 

 long pistol as often as he could load it. The 

 villagers gathered to speed and gaze on the 

 procession, and the only apparently indifferent 

 person was Osman the bridegroom, who, during 



