Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-07-20

1
presence OF their friends and with such festivities Al
the condition Of The parties will admit
In Java there are three kinds of marriages. The
FIRST and most is where the parties are of e
quail condition, the bridegroom is the superior d
the bride the second is where the wie's station Is
much higher than that Of tie husband aud the third
IS sort OF half marriage the offspring of which are
not on an equality with the other children This
marriage IS quite unceremonious, bu, the two other
KINDS are celebrated with some display. The lrs
wife ls always the head of the family
Girls in Java married at so eally an ape that a
single woman of twenty two is almost unheard Of
! A price is always paid by the bridegroom The
bridegroom, spendidly mounted. accompanied by his
friends, with music, goes 10 salute his bride. She
comes out aud meets them with low obeisance-
They SIT together elevated seat and eat Out Of
the same dlsh after which they go to the mosque and
the nuptals celebrated according 10 the Mahon-
medan ritual. Then comes wedding procession
through the village, grand FEAST and at the end of
hVe days, another procession. 10 which the BRIDE is
conducted 10 her husbands house. In some places
the spinning wheel loom and kitchen utensils are ear
RED IN The bridal procession. In others, the bride
washes the bridegroom's feet, in token of Subsection
In Suma,ra. the Bauas have as many wives as they
please, generally live or SIX, who all live the same
apartment with their common husband but each has
seperste fireplace. Husbands purchase their wives
OF their fathers in law, and gamble them away or sell
them whenever they choose.
Among tbs Redjaugs, another tribe, besides the
purchase oil wives, man is sometimes adopted BY
girs la,her son-in- law and both are subject TO
the parent and there is another marriage where both
man and woman pay an equal price, and are on
perfect equality. The ceremonies very simple.
In Borneo, no man is allowed 10 solicit a damsel in
marriage, until he has cut off the head of enemy
hen this condition IS fulfilled, the latter makes pre-
seats to his MISTRESS if they accepted an enter
tainment is gwen by her parents, and the ensuing
day by his parents. A er the feast the bridegroom
Is conducted home to the house Of the bride AT the
door, friend sprnkles him with the blood OF cock
and her with the blood OF hen the parties then give
each other their bloody hands, and from that tiine
they live together Ii man loses his wife, he cannot
marry second I'LL he cuts off the head of another en-
envy.
In Celebes, the husband receives no other dowry
with his wife than the presents she obtains before the
ceremony. As sooE as the young couple are mar
RED, they are shut up in apartment by themselves
Tor three days; servant brings them necessary food
while their friends are entertained with great mefri-
ment by the brides father At the end Of this Time
they are liberated, receive congratulations and
Quoted TO their future home.
The marriage customs of the natives OF New Tiol-
land are rather more curious than agreeable Before
gr IS given 10 her husband, her two front teeth are
knocked out The lover then throws kangaroo skin
over her shoulder spits in her face several times,
marks her with painted stripes Of different eolors or
ders her TO march 10 his hut with his provision bag,
aud If she does not go fast enough to please him. he
gives Der few kicks by the way. These savages
generally steal wives from some tribe with whom tIey
are al enmlty As soon as they observe girl with
out any protector neaf they rash upon her, supiy
her with blows oil a club, and drag her through the
woods with the utmost violence. Her tribe reaiiale
merely by committing similar outrage. There are
no other wedding CEREMONIES
The Moors marry al very early age. Wives are
always purchased and the father Of girl cannot re-
fuse an offer, unless there is some stain upon the
young mans character The bridal tent is adorned
with small white flag, and the bridegroom's brow
Is encrcled with et Of the same color. The bride
IS conducted TO the tent by her parents, where her
lover presents her with garments and Jewels accord
ing 10 his wealth. A grand entertainment is given,
and the young woman dance all day 10 the sound OF
Instruments while the spectators regulate their mo-
tons by clapping hand These dances are not very
decorous.
The marriages anlong the negro tribes are conduct
ed with little CEREMONY, except an abundance OF pas
times and dancing.
Among the Jereres, when lover has secured the
consent of relations. he his friends TO assist
hial IN carrying off the bride, who shuts herself up IN
hut with her companions, where they maintain an
obstinate serge before they conclude 10 surrender
in Bambuk. the bride comes TO the hut Of her bus
band with calabash of water, with which she wash
es his feet, and wipes them with her mantle.
In Congo the negroes rake their wives for year
on trial If at the end of that time they are satisfied,
the wedding is celebrated with feast. The mission
aries uied to abolish this custom, without success.
the mothers declaring that they would not risk the
happiness OF their daughters by urging them TO an IN.
disSoiuble union with persons with whose HABITS ana
tempefs they were not acquainted
In AbySsiGia there Is no form Of marriage cercuo-
ny, parties hive together as long as they please and
these connections dissolved and renewed as often
as they think proper.
African princess have unpleasant way ofiurnish-
ing dowry for their daughters. When the Sultan
Of Mandara married his daughter 10 An Arab Shelk,
"the auptias celebrated BY a great slave hunt
mong the mountains when alter dreadful struggle
three thousand cAptges, by their and bondage.
furnished on, the materials Of a magnificent marriage
festival"
In Dahomey, all the unmarried females, throughout
the kingdom are considered the properly of the sove-
reign. Once year they all brought before hlm
he selects the engaging for himself and sells the
others at high prices ms subjects. No choice Is al
lowed the purchaser He pays twenty thousand
cowes and receives such wife as the king pieases
10 appoint; beag obliged 10 appear satisfied with the
selection, whatever may be her aspect condition.
This king has three thousand wives but the king OF
Ashanee has exactly three thousand thfee hunured
and thirty three aud the safety OF has kingdom sup
posed todepend on hiskeepDg up hls
Waen Houentot wishes 10 marry, he drives two
or three of his best sheep 10 the house el the
BRIDES relations accompanied by rs many ltehus AZ
he can collect together. The animals are slam, ana
the whole assembly rub themselves WIN Tue laI Inc
men Sit in circle round The bridegroom and the wo,
men round lie bride A blessing is then pronounced
on The Young couple which principally consist IN The
hone ,hat Their sons viii be expert bunsmen. and
move comfort Is met i'd age feast IS then pre-
pared. and when ihe rave all eaten yoraeionsiy a
pipeis lighted 81 whieh esyhone smokes lew whns
and ren passes j. q BIS 5eaat teasung = so'iie
ZINES Kept 10 far several DAYS 5utthey have no mn-
SIC OF dancing
The Casoctin gedeyiek county, Md " nv say !
"Our valley assasrS hage al finished hafvesng--'hs
weather proved exceedingly propHous Tor cuWme, ahu
no delay was oecasoned whatever SI me WORK
A ,.,n, ofcorotarfej,ers were arrested 10 Troy IN
,Y0 on Monday. One in attempting 70 run :ell ane
q III 4 I'M; ~. }r,,, ,r,heno a,e named Horn MeCter