"ment' then fhewed me the tents of the "Turcomen, pitched on the banks of the lake, near which we were to pafs.-It was "no easy task to keep my company in good fpirits, within fight of fix or feven thousand Afiatics, whofe peaceable intentions were

"at least doubtful.

"I took care to cover my efcort with my "fmall troop of Europeans; and we conti"nued to march on, in this order, which had 66 no very hostile appearance, when we per"ceived a motion in the enemy's camp, from "which feveral of the Turcomen advanced "to meet us; and I foon had the musicians "of the different hordes, playing and dancing before me all the time we were paffing by "the fide of their camp

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The tranflation does not determine, whether these musicians were of the male or female fex; but I doubt not but that it would appear, on confulting the original French, that they were women that played and danced before M. de Tott, the French inspector, while paffing along the fide of that large encampment.

We cannot after this wonder at the account of the facred hiftorian, that when Saul and David were returning from the flaughter of Goliath, the great hero of the Philistines, "the women came out of all the cities of

1 Confifting of an hundred horfemen. part 4, p. 131, 132. I Sam. 18. 6.

3

U 3

2 Memoirs,

"Ifrael,

"Ifrael, finging and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with in"ftruments of mufic." That is, as I apprehend, the women of the feveral villages of Ifrael near which he paffed, in returning to his fettled abode, univerfally paid him the honour of finging and playing before him for fome confiderable way, while he paffed along in the road near to them. All Ifrael were engaged in rural employments, as well as thefe Turcomen.

Tott afcribes the honours paid him by these Afiatics to the hope of a reward: “I took "leave of them, by prefenting them with "that reward, the hope of which had brought "them to attend us, and with which they "were very civil to go away contented'." I would remark, that the Eastern princes fometimes cause money to be fcattered in proceffions on joyful occafions, according to this very writer; however the fatisfaction that fucceeded great terror, upon the death of Goliath, was enough to engage the Ifraelitish women univerfally to pay this honour to their own king, and an heroic youth of their own nation, who had been the inftrument of effecting fuch a great falvation for their country, without any lucrative confiderations what

ever,

• P. 132.

2 Part 1, p. 123, 124,

OBSER

OBSERVATION LXXIX.

When Jeremiah fpeaks of the changing the ftillness of defolation, into the voice of joy and gladnefs, where numerous inhabitants. dwell, and mentions, among others," the "voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of "the bride'," we certainly are not to underftand him of the bridegroom, and still less or the bride, perfonally confidered; but of their attendants. Youthful modesty would lead us to fuch an interpretation, had the prophet been fpeaking of thefe western parts of the world; but the decencies of eaftern life abfolutely require fuch an explanation.

"There being nothing very material," fays Dr. Ruffell," in the ceremonies of the diffe"rent fects, I fhall give the defcription of a "Maronite wedding, which will serve as a fpecimen of the reft,

"After the bride has been demanded, the "relations of the bridegroom are invited to "an entertainment at the houfe of the bride's

father, in order to confult with her rela"tions (for the young folks themselves have "no vote in fuch affairs, nor are ever feen) "concerning the proper day for celebrating "the wedding; and it is almoft always agreed "" on for that day fortnight. On the appointed

day, in the afternoon, they again go to the "bride's houfe; and, having fupped there, "return to that of the bridegroom, who hi"therto has not appeared, though fome little

enquiry has been made after him; for he "is by cuftom obliged to hide himself, or at "leaft is not to be found without a feemingly "ftrift fearch. When he is brought out "dreffed in his worft clothes, great noije and

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rejoicings are then made on the finding him; "and he and the bride's man, after being "led feveral times round the court-yard, in

noify proceffion, are carried into a room, "where their wedding-clothes are laid out in "form. A priest fays a long prayer over "them; and, being dreffed, they are led "back into the court-yard with the fame "ceremony as before.

"At midnight, or a few hours later, the "relations, accompanied by all that have "been invited to the wedding, men and

women, return once more to the house "where the bride is, in proceffion, each car"rying a candle, and mufic playing before "them. When they come to the door, it is "fhut upon them; and when they knock "and demand the bride, they are refused "admittance. Upon this enfues a mock fight, "but the bridegroom's party always prevails. "The women then go to the bride's cham"ber, lead her out veiled quite over, and in "the like proceffion carry her to the bride

of her fifters, or nearest female relations, "muft accompany her. She is there fet "down at the upper-end of the room among "the women, continues veiled with a red "gaufe, and must fit like a ftatue, neither

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moving nor speaking on any account, except "rifing to every perfon that comes into the

room, which is notified to her by one of "the women who fits by her conftantly, for "she must not open her eyes. The reft "of the night is fpent by each sex in their

feparate apartments in noify mirth, eating "fruits and fweetmeats, there being no want of wine and arrack, Some few retire to "reft.

"The next day, about nine in the morning, "the bishop or priest comes to perform the 66 ceremony. -The ceremony being finish"ed, the bridegroom, and all the men, re"tire again to their proper apartment, where

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they drink coffee, and fit very gravely while "the bishop remains, which is not long; "for dinner being ferved up immediately "for him, and a few felect people of the company, he foon dines, and takes his leave; and he is fcarcely gone a few yards "from the house, before their noify mirth begins. Great quantities of victuals are "dreffed, and feveral tables covered, both " for dinner and fupper; and there is ufually a profufion of tobacco, coffee, wine, and "arrack.

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