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THROUGH ASIA 
most cases dependent on the will of her parents. If the 
youth has no parents, he chooses a bride for himself ; 
but he must always pay kalim (dowry) to her parents. 
A rich Kirghiz pays as much as ten or twelve jambaus 
(one jambau equals ^9 to ^10); a poor one pays a 
couple of horses or yaks. The girl’s parents therefore 
always endeavour to secure her a bai (rich man) for 
a husband ; the young man’s a plain and poor daughter- 
in-law, who will be content with a modest kalim. If the 
girl be young and pretty, a very large dowry is always 
asked. 
Near the Mus-tagh-ata there lived in 1894 unusually 
pretty Kirghiz girl, Nevra Khan, who had suitors from 
far and near ; but her father asked such an unconscionably 
high kalim, that she had reached her twenty-fifth year 
without being married. A young Kirghiz, who was head 
over ears in love with her, begged me to “lend” him the 
sum demanded ; and even the parents of the young people 
tried to get round me, though naturally without success. 
After the contract is made, the betrothal may last an 
indefinite period ; but as soon as the entire kalim is paid, 
the marriage takes place. A new yurt is pitched, and 
within it the wedding is celebrated in the presence of as 
many guests as like to come. Dastarkhan (refreshments) 
of mutton, rice, and tea are served ; then the mollah reads 
out aloud the duties of the young couple towards each 
other. Baigas are held. Everybody wears their best 
khalat (coat). The bride is dressed in all her finery and 
ornaments. If the man belongs to another aul, the 
ceremony is performed at the girl’s aul, whence the newly 
married couple are escorted to their future domicile by 
all the guests. 
When a Kirghiz dies, the body is well washed, and 
dressed in clean white clothes ; then, having been wrapped 
in linen and felts, it is carried with as little delay as 
possible to the grave. The ground is dug out to the 
depth of three feet, and at the bottom of the hole, but 
at the side, another horizontal trench is excavated, and 
in that the body is laid. Then the outer grave is filled 
