The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-15
9pr the fiteside Gllair.
SAVAGE MARRIAGE.


SAVAGE MARRIAGE. %
LIN arevleW of everaErecent works on the
interior of India, a foreign quarterly thus des-
cribes the Hill Tribesof that country,
=" As among savage tribes everywhere that
we have any knowledge OF, marriage in these
hills Is a contract of the nature of barter and
sale, generally unaccompanied by any relig-
lous ceremony. Wehave no'information. re-
specting marriage, among the sGacharees they
are professed Hindoos, though, far from
orthodox and it is probable that they got
their marriage rites with their religion. With
the Meekirs, marriage is matter of contract
unconnected with any religious rite, and cele-
brated by a feast as is also the birth of chill
dren. Polygamy is discountenanced, but
4 practised. The Nagas buy their wives, and
have no marriage ceremony except the Civ
ing of grand feast to. all the villagers, who
| in return build house for the newly mar
| RED couple. Sometimes marriage is preced-
ed by long betrothal; and none are allowed
to marry till of a certain age, and able 10
keep house on their own account Marriage
among the Old Rockies seems to be as much
a religious as a civil ceremony. The young
couple place each a foot upon large stone in
the centre of the village the Ghalim or
headman of which sprinkles them with wa
ter, exhorts them to be yirtuous and faithful
tosyone another, blessing them, and hoping
they may have many children. After this
ceremony. comes grand feast Notwith-
standing the religious nature of the rite, as
Stewart aaiUely remarks, man cannot get
his wife without paying for her, or entering
into bondage in the house of her parents for
term of years-a purchase through service
reminding one of the loves of Jacob. Court
ship is well understood and de1icately man
aged among the Old Rockies. When wooing
has gone on some time, the lover sends a
friend to the parents with asstoup of liquor;
II they quaf it, he enters into preliminaries
II they decline, he must search elsewhere for
ID bride. i Polygamy is interdicted, and never
practised. A widow or widowers may marry
again, but not till after three years, and with
the permission of the family of the late
spouse, which is often withheld, and often
bought. only with a large price. The New
Rockies also buy their wives, or win them
through years of bondage. Wooing precedes
the contract and the price, though passing
under the name of present, is fixed by ne ne.
gotlation, and depends on the wealth of the
parties. 1t is seldom or never in coin. Mar
nage costs the poorest two or three wears of
bondage, or.thirty rupees in gifts. There is
solemn marriage ceremony preceded by feast
ing and games. The parties, clothed in their
best, both drink from stoup of liqaor-a
common mode, among rude tribes, of pledg-
ing troth-presented to them by the Them
poo, or priest, who mutters over them some.
words in an unknown tongue, and ties round
the brides neck two small threads of cotton.
and one round that ofthe man. The threads are
allowed to wear out, and are never replaced.
After the threads are put on, the Thempoo
presents the pair with a small comb apiece {
again mutters some time in the unknown
tongue, and the marriage is complete combs.
1t may be mentioned, are held in the highest
degree of sacredness among the Rockies
They allow widows and widowers to remarrv
but marriage between cousins they prohibit
Some of their rules In regard to adultery and
seduction are peculiar The punishment of
the former is in the hands of the husband
1t is death; but the lover may save his life
by paying something more than the original
price of the woman, when she becomes his
property. In cases of seduction, every effort
Is made have the guilty couple married
forthwith-za penal price being put on. the
bride. In contrast with this feeling for puri-
ty, and singular example of the influence of
power over moral feeling, is peculiar privi-
lege of the Rajah, who has all the women of
his village, married or single, perfectly at his
pleasure. The Rajah, however, has little
temptation to use his power, as he may have
as many wives as he likes, or can keep-both
polygamy and consubinage being in common
practice. Female slaves usually live in con-
cublnage with their masters The great de-
sire of the New Rockies is for male offsprino.
W hen woman is ercetnte she prays and
chants hymns to god Puthen to give her a
son; and when a son is born, there is great
rejoicing. On every birth a feast is given
three days after the birth of a female and
five after that of amale-to the friends of the
family. Among the Munniporees, marriage
| is also through sale, and not necessarily ae-
companied by any ceremony, though usually
there is one-but as often after as before cohab-
lta ton. 1t is said that Munniporee can put
away his wife without any fault on her part
and that if person of influence, he can do
SO without its being noticed The rule how
ever. is, that if a, man puts away his wife
without any ysfault on her part, she takes DOS
session of all his property, excepting drink
ing vessel and the cloth round his loins. A
man and wife may separate by mutual con-
sent; and a wife may quit her husband on
| giving him the value of a slave. Women