'Through Persia on a side-saddle' [‎170] (203/360)

170 THROUGH PERSIA ON A SIDE-SADDLE
or her ablutions in the hot tank first, and as it costs a con
siderable amount of money, expended in firewood and char
coal, to heat such a large expanse of water properly, and as
bathing is very cheap, it is necessary to have a great number
of bathers to make it pay, and I fear it is cleaned out at
very long intervals.
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When it is time for a Persian youth to get married—
which he can legally do at the age of fifteen, and girls at
that of twelve—his mother goes to inspect a suitable wife
for him. If she does not know of any likely maiden she
enlists the services of an old woman, whose office it is to
go from house to house and act as an intermediary in
matrimonial arrangements, all mothers of marriageable
daughters treating her with the greatest respect in order
that she may give a good report of their belongings.
The young lady being fixed upon, and such important
details as social position and dowery being satisfactory, the
gentleman's mother and other female relatives pay a call
of ceremony at her home. Every one of course knows for
what object they have come, and the girl is told to hand
the guests tea and kalians, her manner of doing these little
services being severely criticised. It sometimes happens
that the damsel is perfectly well acquainted by sight with
her would-be betrothed, and if he has not met with favour
in her eyes she now makes a point of behaving rudely to
his mother, and the negotiations come to an abrupt con
clusion.
If, on the other hand, she has approved of him when her
slaves have pointed him out to her in her walks abroad,
all goes smoothly, and she attends a party in turn at his