This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ...pounds, however, form an average dowry, and even five shillings will satisfy the law. You will pay down two-thirds on the spot, and it will be used for the bride's trousseau. The rest is to be paid on the occasion of the betrothal or marriage contract, which generally takes place a week or so before ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ...pounds, however, form an average dowry, and even five shillings will satisfy the law. You will pay down two-thirds on the spot, and it will be used for the bride's trousseau. The rest is to be paid on the occasion of the betrothal or marriage contract, which generally takes place a week or so before the actual wedding, though some betrothals are made in the childhood of the contracting parties. This betrothal is a religious ceremony, and it is as well to choose a propitious time, like the month of Shawwal, for its performance. The Kady and two witnesses are summoned, the bridegroom and the bride's father meet, and after magnifying God, invoking blessings on the Prophet, and reciting passages from the Koran, the bridegroom pays the balance of the dowry, and then, sitting down opposite the bride's father, grasps his hands. A handkerchief is then thrown over the joined hands, and the father of the bride says, "I betroth to thee my daughter Amna, the virgin, for a dowry of twenty pounds);" to which the bridegroom answers, "I accept her betrothal from thee." Thus the contract is completed, and everybody recites the Fatiha, or opening chapter of the Koran: --Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds! The Compassionate, the Merciful! King of the Day of Judgment! Thee we worship, and Theo we ask for help. Guide us in the straight way, The way of those to whom Thou art gracious; Not of those upon whom is Thy wrath, nor of the erring. Amen. The legal part of the marriage being thus arranged, the festivities soon follow. A string of camels brings the bride's furniture to her future husband's house; and the bridegroom gives his farewell bachelor banquets to his friends. For several nights his house is bright with lamps, and gay with...
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Size: 8vo.; 334pp., illus. Cocking to spine, two ownership stamps on paste-downs, bright unmarked pages. Well packaged in a box, ships with tracking.