The Throne of Solomon
it back. They danced with remarkable abandon, cracking
their finger-joints and leaping into the air with both feet close
together.
In the corner the bride still stood, her face completely hidden.
But it was soon time for her to start: already various messengers
had come to say that the young men were on their way. The
friends of the bridegroom would come to fetch her: they would
be repulsed three or four times, to show that there was no
indecent eagerness about the affair: but finally they would
succeed and escort her to the new home.
When we stepped out into the village, the young men were
already galloping wildly up and down. Their mules, de-
lighted to have no packs on their backs, and very gay under
household carpets that covered them, were kicking their heels
and tearing up and down the narrow beehive streets.
Two weddings were now in progress. The bride from
Pichiban was expected at any moment. She had a three
hours' ride down the precipitous track from Salambar to
negotiate under her chadur. She was coming: a beating of
wooden sticks and drums announced her; " Chub chini ham
laria. Chub chini ham laria" the boys cried, dancing round her.
A vague and helpless look of discomfort made itself felt from
under the chadur which hid the lady on her mule, all except her
elastic-sided boots. Two uncles, one on each side, kept her
steady on the extremely bumpy path. So, in complete blind-
ness, the modest female is expected to venture into matrimony.
The village seethed around, waiting. The lady approached,
riding her mule like a galleon in a labouring sea. At a few
yards from the door she was lifted down: a lighted candle was
put into either hand: in front of her on trays they carried her
mirror, her Quran and corn and coloured rice in little saucers,
with lighted candles: these were all borne into her new home,
but she herself paused on the threshold with her two lights held
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