Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-18
A ssipsV Divorce.

A writer Oh the habits of the Gipsies
gives the following account of the cere-
monies of divorce. He says:
Divorce is common. lit is performed
over the body of horse, which is sacri-
feed for the occasion. The ceremony
must take place, If possible, ''when the
sun is at its height" All the parties
concerned in it carry long slaves in their
hands. A horse without blemish is led
forth, and a member of the company is
chosen by lot TO act as priest on the oc-
easion. He walks round the animal
several times, repeating the names of
all the persons in whose possession it has
been, and extolling its rare qualities 1t
is then let loose, and several Gipsies
sent off in pursuit of it, III it is wild
and intractable, leaps bitches, kicks,
and will not allow itself to be easily
ca lght. the guilt of the woman is looked
upon as enormous; but if it is tame and
d0cile, her crimes are thought to be less
heinous, and the death of the horse is
sufficient 20 wash them away. But
sometimes both woman and horse used
to be sacrificed together.
The individuals who catch the horse
bring 1T before the priest. They repeat
to him the tricks he has committed ;
laying the whole of the crimes of which
the woman is supposed TO have been
guilty to its charge, and upbraiding and
scolding the dumb creature, In an an
ory manner for its conduct. They
bring, as it were, an accusation against
it, aud plead for its condemnation,
When this part of the trial is finished,
the priest takes a large knife and
thrusts it into the heart of the horse;
and its blood is allowed to flow upon the
ground till lie is extinct. The dead
animal is now stretched out upon the
ground The husband then takes his
stand on one side of it and the wife on
the other, and holding each 9TH
er by the hand, repeat certain appro-
pirate sentences in the Gypsy language.
They then quit hold of each other, and
walk three times around the body of
the horse contrariwise, passing and
crossing each other at certain points as
they proceed in opposite directions. A
certain part of the animal (the corners
of the horse was the Gipsy's expression)
such as the hind aud fore feet, the
shoulders and launches, the head and
tail, the parties halt aud face each
other, and again repeat sentences in
their own speech as they halt. The
two last stops they make. In their cir
cult round the sacrifice, are at the head
and tail. At the head they again face
each other and speak; and lastly. at the
tail, they again confront each other,
utter some more Gypsy expressions,
shake hands, and finally part, the one
going north, the other south, never
again to be united in this life
Immediately after the separation
has taken place the woman re-
ceives token, which is made of cast
iron, about an inch and half square,
with mark upon it resembling the Ro-
man character Il. After the marriage
has been dissolved. and the woman dis
missed from the sacrifice, the heart of
the horse is taken out aud roasted with
fire, then sprinkled with vinegar on
brandy, and eaten by the husband and
friends then present; the female not be-
ing allowed to join in this part of the
ceremony. The body of the horse,
skin and everything about it, except
the heart, is buried on the spot: and
years after the ceremony has taken place
| the husband and his friends visit the
grave of the animal, TO see whether il
has been disturbed. AT these visits
they walk around the grave, with much
grief and mourning.
The husband may take another wife
| whenever he pleases, but the female is
never permitted TO marry again. The
token, or rather bill of divorce which
she receives, must never be from about
her person. LII she loses it or attempts
to pass herself off as woman never be-
fore married, she becomes liable to the
punishment of death. In the event of
her breaking this law, council of the
chiefs is held upon her conduct, and
her fate is decided by majority of the
members, aud if she is to suffer death,
her sentence must be confirmed by the
king, or principal leader. The culprit
is then tied ont to stake with an iron
chain, and there cudieled to DEATH
The executioners do not extinguish
life at one beating but leave the unhap-
by woman for a little while and then re,
turn to her and at last complete theil
work by despatching her on the spot