Page 332 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

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A Sabean Wedding
Miss Ruth Jackson
T River which is known as the Sabean district. I localise of their i
11KRE is a corner of Amarah lying along the hend of the I'hahala
religions customs, this community must ho close to a river.
The Stthcatts claim to be followers of Julm the Itaplisl. llaplism i
jj, one of their most sacred rites and is practiced at birth, death and all
points in between, at times obligatory, always meritorious. They have
no church, but close to the river is an enclosure made by a reed fence,
jo, one door opening onto the river path. Here we entered one Sunday
morning to witness the beginning of a wedding ceremony. Within is a
|,are yard, one end roofed over with mats. At one side under this is a
>mall hut whose opening faced the wall. At the other side was a low ‘
charcoal lire on the ground and one stone of a small hand mill for grinding !
pain. Nearby were seated on the ground a group of men in the while l
ceremonial clothes peculiar to the sect. All were priests. “Mii’miiiiii,” or
men officiating in the ceremony. Others, men and women in ordinary I*
clothes, came and went quite casually, while a group of onlookers were !
gathered in the open yard. I
We had missed the first part of the ceremony. The bride, dressed in
beautiful bright silk clothes, had been veiled with a thin light green
cloth and covered with a whi|c silk abba, or cloak. A lighted lantern
was put in her hand and she was led to the riverside enclosure. Under
die shelter she was surrounded by women to shut oil’ the public view. \ ■
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Her pretty clothes were taken olT and put in a basket and she was dressed ! •
m the white ceremonial robes used for baptism. The “niifiniu” then
inspected her clothing carefully, fur if any detail is not correct the cere­ I
mony may not proceed. After his approval she is sprinkled with water,
,i black abba is placed on her head covering her completely, and she is led
|.y |wo women attendants to the river. These attendants are also dressed 1
m the baptismal clothes and they are the only ones who may touch the
l.iide from this time until the completion of the entire wedding ceremony ‘s
In I lie river she is Implixed by the "um'iiiiii." both l>v sprinkling and
immersion. Then she is led again within the enclosure and must walk I
three times around two mud dishes in which are incense and lire. As !:
die dues this she repeats the words which the "iiui'iuin" dictates. The
language used is their own Maudean, which very few of the younger
generation understand at all. After this she is dressed in a dry set of
ceremonial clothes and these she continues to wear until the end of the
ceremony. The green veil and white abba again cover her and she is led !
n.idM darning, drums and shouting to the bridegroom's house to a room
piepared for Iter.
The men now bring the bridegroom for baptism. We arrived in time !
lu >ec a young boy return from baptism. He put on dry white clothes i
u,,,| a little later donned his usual clothing. They led forth the groom.
i|te>*rd -iu the long baptismal robe with white trousers showing beneath.
.» girdle at the waist, a white headpiece and a turban with one end hanging
over the shoulder. Men gathered about him dancing, singing and snapping
•Icir knuckles as accompaniment. He was led to the river and baptized.
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