feasted, and tlie father of the bridegroom also received
and entertained his friends in like manner.
A t length came an invitation to attend the finale of
this long ceremonial. We first walked to the house
of the bridegroom. Large Chinese lanterns bril- O O
liantly lighted the veranda and the adjoining narrow
lane, which was thronged with men and boys. We
then visited the house where the bride was waiting
to receive her lord. The piazza opened into a
large room, and on one side of it was a smaller one,
closed by a red curtain instead of a door. No one
but the lady-guests were allowed to enter where the
bride was sitting. The larger room contained many
small tables loaded with delicacies, mostly of Chinese
manufacture. Not to be unsocial, we sat down and
sipped a cup of boiling tea, and observed the assembled
guests while all were waiting for the coming of
the bridegroom as in good Scripture times. In the
opposite corner was a table surrounded with Malay
ladies. It also was covered with sweetmeats, but
room was soon made for the more necessary siri-box;
a liberal quid of lime, pepper-leaves, and betel-nut
was taken by each one, and, to complete the disgusting
sight, an urn-shaped spittoon, an inseparable
companion of the siri-box, was produced, and handed
round from one to' another as the occasion demanded.
A shrill piping was now heard down the street, and
every one rushed out on the veranda to see the approaching
procession. First came boys with wax-can-
dles, and near them others carrying the presents that
the bride and the bridegroom had received. Then came
the bridegroom himself, supported by his friends, and
surrounded by candles arranged at different heights
on rude triangular frames. He was dressed in a
Malay suit of light red, and wore a gilded chain. I
had been told that, when he should attempt to enter
the room where the bride sat waiting, the women
would gather and persistently dispute his right to
proceed, and here, in the distant I East, I thought to
myself, I shall see an illustration of the maxim,
| None but the brave deserve the fair.” On the contrary,
so far from manifesting any disposition to oppose
him and prolong the ceremony, they only made
way for him to enter the bridal-chamber as quickly
as possible. As my friend and I were the only white
persons present, we were allowed the especial favor
of entering also. On one side of the room was a
small table covered with a red cloth, and on this were
two gigantic red wax-candles. Behind the table sat
the bride, arrayed in a scarlet dress, with a white
opaque veil concealing her face, and fastened to her
hair. As the bridegroom approached, she slowly rose.
Placing his hands with the palms together, he bowed
three times in the same manner as the Chinese address
the images in their temples. She returned the
salutation by also bowing three times, but without
raising her hands. Now came the exciting moment.
She remained standing while he stepped forward and
commenced pulling out the pins that held fast the
opaque veil which hid her beauty from his longing
eyes. Not being very skilful in this operation, a
couple of the maids-in-waiting assisted him, and, by
degrees, was revealed a face that was at least one
shade darker than most of the ladies near her, and I