Returning to the bridegroom, holy water (ayer sĕmbahyang) is now fetched in a chĕrek (a kettle-shaped vessel) or bucket, for the bridegroom to wash his face and hands, and he then proceeds to put on his wedding garments, as described above, after which a scarf (salendang) is slung across his shoulder. The marriage procession (pĕrarakan) then sets out, the women heading it (pĕnganjor) and the men following, the bridegroom carried upon somebody’s shoulders (di-sompoh), and right and left the musicians beating drums, tabors, etc., whilst those who have any skill amuse the company with exhibitions of Malay fencing (main silat) and dancing, etc., to the accompaniment of the zikir intoned by their companions.
The arrival of the bridegroom at the bride’s house is the signal for a mimic conflict for the person of the bride, which is called mĕlawa, and is strangely reminiscent of similar customs which formerly obtained in Europe.
Plate 13.—Wedding Procession.
Model, showing a wedding procession arriving at the bride’s house, the bridegroom being carried on a man’s shoulders, and shaded by an umbrella.
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In some cases a rope or piece of red cloth would be stretched across the path to bar the progress of the bridegroom’s party, and a stout enough resistance would be offered by the defenders until the bridegroom consented to pay a fine which formerly amounted, it is said, to as much as $20, though not more than $3 or $4 would now be asked. Occasionally the bridegroom would pay the fine by pulling the ring off his finger and handing it to the bride’s relations, but the ceremony would not unfrequently end in a free fight. Verses were recited on these occasions, of which a few stanzas will be found in the Appendix.[88]
On arriving at the door the musicians strike up their liveliest tune, and as the bridegroom is carried up the steps he has to force his way through an Amazonian force consisting of the ladies of the bride’s party, who assemble to repel the invader from the threshold. A well-directed fire is maintained by others, who pour upon the foe over the heads of the defenders repeated volleys of saffron rice (or, at a royal wedding, ambor-ambor—i.e. clippings from a thin sheet of silver or gold which are thrown among the crowd as largess).
Plate 14.—Poko’ sirih.