The weekly Butte record., 1858-10-09
NO. 4S
Ma Tag S in Nicaragua.


Hell is, IN his Spanish Conoaest of Amer,
ca" describes national cus;om of Niearraui,
in regard to marriage. which, he remark-
''among all the st angc Thing. that have been
done in the way of mltriony, is perhaps unique
in the annals of the world
A young Nicaraguan beauty would have
mary favored lovers but after a time, bethink-
ing that it would be well to marry and settle,
she would ask her iather to give her a portion
of land near to where he lyed,--When he had
appointed what hand she should have. she
would call her lovers together and tell them
| hat she wished to marry, and to take one Of
| them as her husband; that she did not possess
| house. but that she desired they would build
her one on ihe land which her father had
given her. Theprudent damsel did not hesitate
ta enter into details as 10 the kind of house
which she wished built, and would add that if
they loved her well, the house would be built
by such day, giving them q month or six
weeks to complete it in. To one she would
give the charge of furnishing the wood work,
to another to find the canes which were to form
the walls; to another to provide the cordage
to another, to gather the straw sor the roof
to another to get dried fish TO stock the house
to another, to get deer and pigs for her; and
10 another to collect maize. This work was
usually put in hand with the utmost prompti-
tude, nor was the least thing dispensed with
that she had asked fer. On the contrary, anx-
lous to show their zeal TO the lady Of their af-
iectlons, they sometimes brought double OF
what had been demanded. Their friends and
relations aided them, for it was thought q great
honor to be the successful competitor, and that
1t would reflect honor upon his kindred We
may easily imagine what efforts were made by
the contendlng parties to promote their several
suits how her relatives were honored and fiat
| tered, how her companions were yaylaid and
what tales were conveyed 10 her ears Of the
dangers and labors that were undertaken for
her sake. he pomp of couriship could never
have been brought so distinctly before the ewes
OF the world as in the pleasant provinces of hi.
caragua. At last the house was ready, the
provisions and furniture were put in it. and the
hearts OF the over-worked competitors beat
rapidly as the fortunate or fatal moment ap-
PREACHED A solemn feast was held in the new
house. When supper was concluded, the dam
sci rose, and made u short but gracious speech,
She hrst thanked them all heartily for the la
Dor they had undergone in her behalf She
| then said that she wished it was in her power
to make SO many women that she could pro-
vide wife TOR each of her suitois; in tunes
past they had seen what loving mistress she
had been to each of them; but now she was
going to be married and TO belong to one alone
aud this the one, she said, yhereupol she
took the chosen sutor by the hand, and re-
tired from the apartment Her choice having
been declared. the disappointed suitors and
their respective factions went away amicably,
and concluded the feast by dancing and drink
ing, until the senses Of most oil them war9 oyer,
come. AS 10 the bride, she was henceforwarq
utterly cold TO all her former LOVERS, aLd show
ed herself to be true wife. The disappojnts
ed spltors for the post part bore their disap-
poIntment meekly, but sometimes it hcppened
that, on the morning after The plarT.age, one or
two oI them were found hanging from IA tree
aad the bodies remained gha-tly spectacle ot
horror, to show the world how the fair \ icara
guam had been loved aud lost.