OCR Text |
Show Cling to Custom of Carrying Off Mates A curious marriage custom persists in Abchasia, a district of the Caucasus. Cau-casus. On the wedding day the bride withdraws to the darkest room of the house. At dusk the bridegroom, supported sup-ported by a bodyguard of friends, all fully armed, rides up to the house, dismounts, dis-mounts, and hammers on the door with a dagger hilt The door opens to reveal the bride's male relatives, just as ferociously quipped, and the two parties promptly prompt-ly Join in a mock combat Eventually the defenders retire, the bridegroom rushes in, seizes his bride, flings her across his shoulder, and, carrying her out, leaps on his horse and gallops off with his capture to the accompaniment of the victorious yells of his supporters. Shortly after, the defeated relatives of the bride mount their horses and give chase. When the bridegroom' house is reached both sides join in a contest to see who can drink most wine ! Abchaslan girls decline to give up the rite, and few would accept any suitor who did not Intend to carry them off by force. |