Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules Verne
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in default of brothers, can only inherit a part of her father’s fortune, and then only when he so declares by will. These conditions are usually arranged by persons who are called the “mei-jin,” and the marriage is not decided upon until there is a full agreement in regard to these matters. The young fiancée is then presented to the parents of the husband, who does not see her till, locked up in her chair, she reaches the marriage-home. Then the key is handed him, and he opens the door. If his fiancée pleases him, he holds out his hand to her; if she does not, he quickly closes the door, and is released by forfeiting the earnest-money to her parents.
There could be nothing of this in Kin-Fo’s marriage; for he knew the lady, and was not obliged to purchase her.
This simplified matters very much.
The 25th of June came at last, and all was ready. For three days, according to custom, Le-ou’s house was brilliantly lighted; and for three nights Madame Lutalou, who represented the family of the bride, wholly deprived herself of sleep, it being considered proper to do this, in order to show a becoming sadness at the moment when the bride leaves her father’s home. If Kin-Fo’s parents had been living, his own house would also have been illuminated as a sign of mourning; “because the marriage of the son is considered to be a reminder of the death of the father, whom he is about to succeed,” says the “Hao-Khieou-Tchouen.”
But, if these customs need not be followed in the union of a couple who were absolutely free to dispose of themselves, there were others which they must respect.
Therefore the astrological formalities had not been neglected. The horoscopes, having been drawn according to every rule, indicated a perfect compatibility of disposition and similarity of destiny; and the period of the year and the age of the moon were found to be propitious. Indeed, never had a marriage been surrounded by more favorable auspices.
The wedding-reception was to take place at eight o’clock in the evening at the Hotel of Celestial Happiness, her husband’s house, where the wife was to be conducted in great state. In China no appearance before a civil magistrate, priest, bonze, lama, or any one else, is necessary.
At seven o’clock Kin-Fo, still attended by Craig and Fry, who were as gay as if they had been present at a European wedding, received his friends on the threshold of the apartment.
What an excess of politeness! These notable personages received an invitation in microscopic characters on red paper:—
“Mr. Kin-Fo of Shanghai humbly presents his respects to Mr.——, and begs him more humbly still to be present at the humble ceremony,” etc.
All the guests had come to pay their respects to the married couple. The gentlemen were to partake of a magnificent feast reserved for them alone, while the ladies assembled at another table especially intended for them.
The merchant Yin-Pang and the literary Houal were there; arid then came several mandarins, who wore on their official hats a red ball as large as a pigeon’s egg, which indicated that they belonged to the first three orders. Others of lower rank had only opaque-blue or opaque-white buttons. The majority were civil dignitaries of Chinese origin, as of right were the friends of a citizen of Shang-hai who was hostile to the Tartar race. All were handsomely dressed in brilliant robes, and with their gay head-dresses formed a dazzling cortége.
Kin-Fo, as politeness required, awaited them at the entrance of the hotel, and, as soon as they arrived, led them to the reception-room, after begging them twice, at every door opened to them by the servants in full livery, to pass before him. He called them by their titles, asked after their “distinguished healths,” and wished to be informed in regard to that of their “distinguished families.” In short, the closest observer of mannerisms as well as sincere politeness could not have found the slightest fault with his behavior.
Craig and Fry looked on admiringly at all these formalities: but, while admiring, they did not lose sight of their irreproachable charge; for one thought had come to them both.
Suppose Wang had not perished in the river, as they believed. What if he were among these guests? The twenty-fourth hour of the twenty-fifth day of June—the final hour—had not yet come! The hand of the Tai-ping was not disarmed! What, if at the last moment—
No, that was not probable; but yet it was possible. Therefore, as a last act of prudence, Craig and Fry looked carefully around among the company, but saw no suspicious-looking face.
During this time the bride left her house in Cha-Coua Avenue, and took a seat in her palanquin.
Although Kin-Fo did not wish to assume the mandarin costume, which every fiancé has a right to wear,—through a feeling of honor for this institution of marriage which ancient legislators held in great esteem,—Le-ou conformed to the rules of the best society, and was resplendent in a red dress of beautiful embroidered silk. Her face was almost hidden behind a veil studded with pearls, which seemed to have been distilled like dewdrops from the costly diadem whose golden band encircled her forehead. Precious stones and the choicest artificial flowers brightened her hair and long black braids; and Kin-Fo could not fail to think her more beautiful than ever when she would alight from the palanquin, whose door his own hand would soon open.
The wedding procession started, turned around the square to enter Grand Avenue, and follow the boulevard Tiene-Men. No doubt it would have been more magnificent if it had been a funeral instead of a wedding; but, as it was, it was attractive enough to cause passers-by to stop and look.
The palanquin was followed by Leon’s friends and companions, who bore with great pomp the different articles of the trousseau. About twenty musicians marched in front, making a great noise with copper instruments, among which was heard the deep-sounding gong. A crowd of men, some bearing torches and some lanterns of a thousand colors, surrounded the palanquin. The bride remained concealed from every one; for the first eyes to behold her must, according to etiquette, be those of her husband.
With all this state, and surrounded by a noisy crowd, the procession reached the Hotel of Celestial Happiness about eight o’clock in the evening.
Kin-Fo stood at the elegantly decorated entrance, awaiting the palanquin, in order to open the door, after which he would assist his bride to alight, and escort her to a private reception-room, where both would salute heaven four times, and then repair to the nuptial feast. The bride would kneel to her husband four times, and he, in his turn, twice to her. They would sprinkle two or three drops of wine around as a libation, and offer food to the interceding spirits. Then two cups of wine would be brought them, which they would partly empty; and, mixing what would remain in one cup, each would drink from it, and then the union would be consecrated.
The palanquin having arrived, Kin-Fo stepped forward to meet it. A master of ceremonies handed him the key, and he unlocked the door, and held out his hand to the pretty Le-ou, who was greatly agitated. The bride stepped out lightly, and passed through the group of guests, who bowed respectfully, and raised their hands as high as their breasts.
Just as the young woman was about to enter the hotel, a signal was given, and very large luminous kites rose into the sky from the open space; and their many-colored figures of dragons, phoenixes, and other marriage-emblems, could be seen fluttering in the breeze. Æolian pigeons, with a musical attachment fastened to their tails, flew around, filling the place with celestial harmony. Rockets of a thousand colors were sent off with a whizz, and fell in a golden shower from their dazzling bouquets.
All at once a noise was heard in the distance, from the direction of the boulevard Tiene-Men. There was shouting mingled with the shrill sound of trumpets; and then there was a lull, followed in a few moments by the same noise. It was coming nearer, and would soon reach the place where Le-ou’s procession had halted.
Kin-Fo listened, and his friends, not knowing what to do, waited for the bride to enter the hotel; but, almost in a moment, the street was filled with a strange commotion, and the