Marriage Customs in Tartary.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 73, 25 October 1884, Page 5

Marriage Customs in Tartary.

Among the Kirghese the practice of polygamy obtains. Generally the eldest brother of a family has more than one wife. The first wife is mistress of the household, and is called baibiche. To her are subject, not only her husband's other wives, but also all the other females of the family. The head of a household will often send a portion of his herds several hundreds of miles away under the care of this wife, whilst he himself will either remain with his other wives about the grazing ground, or go and encamp somewhere by himself. In winter the family comes together again. The manifold circumstances connected with marriage among the Kirghese are somewhat formidable, and involve the payment of a kalim, besides the giving of various presents. The affair is arranged as to its preliminaries, by match-makers, and the bridegroom, after betrothal, has sometimes to wait for a year or more, until he can bring: the remaining portion of the kalim. If during this period the betrothed girl should die, her parents ore bonud to give instead their next daughter, or in default to return the kalim, and pay also a fine of one or two horses and robes of furs. So also is it if the girl should refuse to marry, which she may do on account of the suitor's ill-health, or his poverty, or (in some localities) her personal dislike, custom is that if the bridegroom die or refuse to marry the girl, his parents are bound to take her for their next son, paying a fine, usually a camel, in case of refusal. When the prescribed period of betrothal is at an end, the bridegroom, dressed and mounted at his best, goes with his friends to the aul or village of the bride, where the tent has been prepared for his reception. Throughout the ceremonies of betrothal, the bride's brother has the right of pilfering from the bridegroom whatever he pleases ; but now the bride's relations come and take as presents almost •v. i > thing he has— his coat, hat, girdle, horse, and saddle, saying each one that fcheyarefor the education of the bride— a seizure that is afterwards repaid by the relations of the bridegroom on the visit to their aul of the relations of the bride.— "Leisure Hour."