SOME HASTY MARRIAGES IN EGYPT.
According to a letter from Alexandria in the ‘Allgcmeine Zeitung,’ a Turkish slaveship was captured the other day by an English vessel, and the slaves it contained, consisting of seventy women and ten men, were liberated. The men volunteered into the Egyptian army, but it was more difficult to dispose of the women, as they have no notion of liberty, and if left to themselves would probably have b< en drafted without making any resistance into some Musse 1 - maii’s harem. Under the treaty concluded between the English Government and the Khedive the importation and exportation of slaves is forbidden ; but the detention and sale of slaves in the country is permitted tor about six years longer in Egypt, and eleven years in the y'ouian. Several officers accordingly came to the pasha of the district with offers to buy some of the female slaves, but the pasha declared he would not part with them unless they got married. He then announced that any soldier or civilian wishing to marry one of the slaves would have to pay six thalers for her dowry, but that the women would be allowed to choose their husbands from among those who should present themselves for that purpose. A great number of men, chiefly soldiers, assembled on the day appointed for the selection.' The’ women were so shy that they “ huddled together like a flock of sheep,” and
could not be induced to move. At last one of them, tab mg courage, advanced slow 1 y to a black Egyptian sergeant, who was anythin;'- bi t young or bandsonn . and put her hand upon his shoulder as a >.gn ibat was tin- man she wished to marry. Her examph* was instandy followed by the other worn n, who rushed 'forward to choose their husbands as if they feared to be too late, It was now the men’s turn to say whether they accepted the selection. All were satisfied but five, and even the five women who were consequently obliged to choose again were ultimately provided with husbands.—Exchange. 1
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Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 101, 4 December 1878, Page 3
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348SOME HASTY MARRIAGES IN EGYPT. Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 101, 4 December 1878, Page 3
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