Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-04-03
MtstdIaneons.
eourtship and Marriage in Nicaragua.

In his account OF the discovery and settle
ment of Nicaragua, Mr.. Helps describes a ma
tional custom in regrad to Marriage, which be
remarks, " among all the strange things that
have been done in the way of matrimony, is
perhaps unique in the annals ofthe world"
| NTCARAGUAN MARRIAGE.-A young Mica
raguan beauty would have many favored To-
vers !; but, after time bethinking her that it
would be well to marry and settle, she would
ask her father to give her portion Of land
near to where he lived. When he had ap.
| pointed what land she should have, she would
call her lovers together and tell them that
she wished to marry, and to take one of them
as her husband, that she did not possess O.
house but that she desired that they would
build her one on the land which her father
had given her. The prudent dausel did not
hesitate to enter into details aa to the kind
of q house she wished to have built, Cud would
add that, if they loved her well, the house
would be built by such day, giving them a
month or six weeks TO complete it in. 70
one she would gi7e the the charge Of furnish
ing the wood, work to another to find the
canes which were to form the walls to anoth-
er, to provide the cordage; to another, to
gather straw for the roof to another, to
procure dried fish to stock the house TO
another, TO get deer and and pigs for her, 10
another TO collect maize This work was
usually Put in hand with the utmost prompti-
tude, nor was the least thing GiSpenced with
that she had asked for On the contrary,
anxious TO show their zeal to the lady OF their
affections, they sometimes brought double of
what had been demanded. Their friends
aud relations aided them, for it was always
! thought great honor to be the successful
competitor, and that it would reflect honor
upon his kindred.
! We may easily imagine what eiforst were
made by the contending parties TO promote
their several suits, how her relatives were
honored and fattered, how her companions
were waylaid, and what tales were conveyed
TO her ears Of the dangers and labors that
were undertaken for her sake. The pomp Of
courtship could ueTcr have been brought SO
distinctly before the eyes Of the world US in
! the pleasant province of Nicaragua.
! AT last the house was ready. The proTi-
sions and the furniture were put IN it, and the
hearts Of the over.worked competitors beat
rapidly as the fortunate or the fatal moment
approached.
A solemn feast was held in the new house
| When supper was concluded, the damsel rose,
and made a short but gracious speech. She
| first thanked them all heartily for the labor
they han undergone on her behalf She then
said that she wished it was in her power TO
make SO many women that she could provide
wife for each Of her suitOrs. In times 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
and this 10 the one, she said whereupon she
took the chosen suitc- by the hand, and re-
tired from the apartment. Her choice hav-
ing been declared, the disappointed suitors
nd their respective factions went away ami
cably. ard. concluded the feast 10y dancing and
drinking, until the senses Of most Of them
were overcome.
As to the bride, she was henceforth utterly
cold to all her former lovers, and showed her
self to be true wife. The disappointed suit
ors, for the most part, bore their disappoint-
ment meekly, but sometimes il happened that
on the morning after the marriage one or two
of them were found hanging from tree, aud
there the bodies remained, CHASTITY spectacle
o! honor, TO show the world how the fair
Ncaraguan had been loved and lost.