MARRIED IN TIBET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12579, 21 May 1904, Page 5 (Supplement)

MARRIED IN TIBET.

' STRANGE WEDDING CUSTOMS IN ' THE FORBIDDEN CITY, , It -is seldom that any strangers ever cross into Tibet, and extremely rare for one to penetrate into the country as far as Lhasa, the well-callied Forbidden City.. Nevertheless, a Buddhist priest from Japan has, only some!'months ago, returned to his native land after 'liaving lived for two years in Lhasa; disguised as a Chinese physician. His reports of some of the. customs of that country .are, therefor® specially interesting. . " • ' *. The .Tibetans commonly marry between the nges of twenty and twenty-five; as a rule, the girls being younger than the boys. The marriage is entirely arranged by the respective parents,' the greatest secrecy being maintained —so much so that the parties most,interested have 110 suspicion of what is being entertained. The parents of a boy begin by despatching their agent to the parents of a marriageable girl, and if the latter think the match feasible. they immediately consult a confidential fortune-teller, or. a high priest, for advice. An the proper time " milk money" is paid by the boy's parents to the mother of the girl, as a inpayment, of what the latter has cost to bring —this sum naturally varying according to the status of the families. The | date being settled, the parents of the girl i are given lit understand when the formal go.-between will be cent to them from the other party. Just ,beroro his arrival, the girl will be told to make an elaborate toilette, and on the arrival of the go-between she is formally told that she is to be married to So-and-So. The feast of " sending the bride away" is then held immediately, and lasts from two to five days—sometimes much longer. Presents are given t<? the girl by | her parents and friends, and shortly an | agent arrives bringing the "milk money" and a wedding gown for the bride. The latter is also given a marriage jewel to near on her brow, as a sign that, she is a. married woman. This is taken away from her by her husband should she at any later, til ; be divorced from him. On the clay appointed for the bride's departure the priests are called in, and various prayers are offered tip; the professional adviser is also invited, and he gives the girl much instruction and advice as to her future duties. Finally the girl sets out 011 horseback, wearing all the ornaments given to liei, also the dress sent by the bridegroom, and over her Itiead a, green, yellow, red, and white cloth, which completely screens her facs. She is met in the road by the welcoming party from the bridegroom, and then ensues more feasting, sometimes at roadside, eating-houses,- or at friends' houses, or even I tents. Arrived at the bridegroom's house, they find the door Closed against them, and various ceremonies are gone through before it is slowly opened by the boy's, mother, who offers * greeting in the form of special refreshments. Feasting and prayers then follow, at:d the parents of the bridegroom give each one of the guests a, bit of thin silk, which signifies the perfect agreement ot both, parties.

Mr. Jinks (as he leaves for the city) " Capital idea, that revolving house of mine. I only have to start the machine ami it goes round and gets the sun at all hours.

IllS VACATION. Owner: "Well, the poor old moke ain't been quite 'isseit lately, so wo thought: a day in the country 'ud do 'im good! —Punch.

TRANSPORTING A TORPEDO-BOAT IN SECTIONS TO THE "RAILWAY FOR CONVEYANCE TO 'HIE FAR EAST. Font torpedo-boats, built in the St. Petersburg yards, are being conveyed in sections overland to the Far East, Twenty or thirty carts are to be seen every day conveying the parts of the boats to the Nicholas Station, here they are packed on ti ticks and covered over. Two trains are sufficient to carry all the parts of each boat. -

But Mr. Jinks, on his return from the city, iiuds that someone has touched a wrung lever, and can't stop." the house. Puzzle, how is .links to get in?