[2588] Vámbéry, ‘Das Türkenvolk,’ pp. 339, 459, et seq.
[2589] Sinhalese (Davy, loc. cit. p. 285), Naickers (Kearns, ‘Kalyán’a Shat’anku,’ p. 54), Gonds and Korkús (Forsyth, loc. cit. p. 149), Khyoungtha (Lewin, loc. cit. pp. 126, et seq.), Siamese (Bock, ‘Temples and Elephants,’ p. 183), Kalmucks (Georgi, loc. cit. p. 411), Chinese (Wells Williams, loc. cit. vol. i. p. 785), Japanese (Küchler, in ‘Trans. As. Soc. Japan,’ vol. xiii. p. 121), ancient Mexicans (Waitz, loc. cit. vol. iv. p. 132). In this connection should also be noticed the ‘lucky days,’ when matrimony in general is concluded under the best auspices. In China, these are especially marked in the almanacks (Montgomery, loc. cit. vol. ii. p. 268). The spring season and the last month in the year are regarded as the most fortunate nuptial periods in that country (Wells Williams, vol. i. p. 791), whereas the ninth month is considered very unpropitious (Gray, loc. cit. vol. i. p. 187). Among the Bedouins of Mount Sinai (Burckhardt, loc. cit. p. 152), the Egyptians (Lane, loc. cit. vol. i. pp. 222, et seq.), and the Mohammedan negroes of Senegambia (Reade, loc. cit. p. 453), Friday is esteemed the most fortunate day for marriage; while the Copts generally marry on the night preceding Sunday (Lane, vol. ii. p. 331). In India, the month Phalguna was considered the luckiest period (v. Bohlen, loc. cit. vol. ii. p. 148), and in Morocco, as I am informed by Dr. Churcher, the month called Moolood (birth of Mohammed). Again, in Thuringia, marriages are generally contracted at the time of the full moon (Schmidt, ‘Sitten und Gebräuche in Thüringen,’ p. 28); whilst in Orkney and Esthonia, no couple would consent to marry except at the time of the crescent moon. The same superstition prevailed among the ancient Hindus, Greeks, and Germans (v. Schroeder, loc. cit. p. 50). In Scotland, formerly, nearly all avoided contracting marriage in May, and the Lowlanders were disinclined to marry on Friday (Rogers, loc. cit. p. 112). The Romans considered May and the first half of June an unlucky period (Rossbach, loc. cit. p. 265). In Egypt, it is a common belief that, if any one make a marriage contract in the month of Moharram, the marriage will be unhappy and soon dissolved, hence few persons do so (Lane, vol. i. p. 219, note *). For ‘unlucky days’ among the tribes of the Indian Archipelago, see Wilken, in ‘Bijdragen,’ &c., ser. v. vol. i. p. 380.
[2590] Acosta, loc. cit. vol. ii. p. 370.
[2591] Waitz, loc. cit. vol. iv. p. 366.
[2592] Ibid., vol. iv. p. 317. de Herrera, loc. cit. vol. iv. p. 172.
[2593] Heriot, loc. cit. p. 333.
[2594] Fytche, loc. cit. vol. ii. p. 70.
[2595] Tartars (Huc, loc. cit. vol. i. p. 186), Siamese (Bock, ‘Temples and Elephants,’ p. 185), Kalmucks (Liadov, in ‘Jour. Anthr. Inst.,’ vol. i. p. 403). In Japan, on the other hand, the marriage ceremony is entirely of a social nature, no religious element entering into it at all (Küchler, in ‘Trans. As. Soc. Japan,’ vol. xiii. p. 123).
[2596] Gray, loc. cit. vol. i. p. 205.
[2597] Ewald, loc. cit. pp. 201, et seq. Cf. Gans, loc. cit. vol. i. p. 140; Frankel, loc. cit. p. xxx.