Show I Novel Ularriago Customs 1 I The people now living in the Northern Turkestan steppes consist for the most part of a Turkish race generally called Kirghese tf which the two sections ire the KaraKirghese living in the mountains moun-tains of the south while the Kirghese of the plains called themselves Kazaks 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 matchmakers 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 are bound to give instead their next daughter or in default de-fault to return the kalim and pay also a fine of one or two horses and robes or furs So also is it if the girl should refuse to marry which she may do on account of the suitors illhealth or his poverty or in some localities her personal per-sonal dislike Yet another 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 cere-monies of betrothal the brides brother has the right pilfering from the bride groo i whatever he pleases but now the brides relations come and take as presents pres-ents almost everything he hashis coat hat girdle horse and saddle saying each one that they are for the education of the bridea seizure that is afterward repaid by the relations pf the bridegroom bride-groom on the visit to the relations of the bride The brides parents are bound to give up to the bride when the kalim is paid giving her in dowry a kibitka or tent a camel or riding horse and cattle also a brides headdress called saoukcle or if poor another called jaoulonk besides a bed crockery and a trunk of wearing apparel |