'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎679] (778/905)

CHAP. XXV.] MARRIAGE CEREMONIES.
679
limits, a kind of prayer, followed by a draught of camel's milk. Manner of
confirms the contract, and reioicinffs suited to the station of making the
4.1 • j i i i r* . marriage
tne parties are made^ both before and at the marriage. Among contract,
persons in ordinary circumstances, the father, on receiving a
proposal, consults his daughter, and returns an answer, if
affirmative, presents are sent to the family, according to the
lover's means, and about five days later he kills a lamb, before
witnesses, near the lady's tent, when the flowing of the blood
completes the contract. Great feastings, with music and
dancing then take place; and during the succeeding seven
or eight days, the camp is a scene of confusion from the sounds
of drums, horns, trumpets, and other instruments; at length
the bride is conveyed in procession to her future home, seated
on horseback, in a kind of sedan, and completely hidden either
by the curtains or the bridal presents thrown over it. Great
rejoicings take place on other occasions, as the birth of a son,
the foaling of a mare, or the arrival of a guest. 1
But the course of true love does not always run smooth, even Eiopemems
in Arabia; and sometimes, when the consent of the parents Seasonally,
is withheld, a meeting of the parties by night takes place by
appointment, and this is followed by a flight, the lover pro-
viding swift horses for himself and his mistress.
Immediately on their birth, children are named from some Circumcision,
circumstance or locality which happens to strike the mother's
fancy ; 2 and at the age of six or seven circumcision takes place.
This ceremony was practised by the ancient Arabs, and it is
still celebrated with feasting and rejoicing, in which usually
several families join, for it generally happens, by a little
arrangement, that there are several boys to be operated on at
the same time. The flesh of camels and sheep, the latter
roasted whole, is on such occasions distributed amongst the
poorer people of the tribe.
Deep and loud lamentations beginning in the tent of a
person just deceased, announce the fact to the rest of the
camp; and before the body is quite laid out, the mourning
women, who are hired for the purpose, commence their
1 Burckhardt's Bedawin and Wahhdbi, p. 192.
2 Ibid., p. 55.