The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-10-15

TENT LIFE IN SIBERIA.

Harper has Just published volume
entitled as above, from which we extract
the following singular marriage cere>
mony, as perfor ned an oDg the Korak's:
RACE FOB A WIFE.
The regular throbs of the drum con-
tinued throughout the distribution of the
willow sticks. and at its close the drums
mer began TO sing low, musical recita-
tive, which increased gradually in vol
ume and energy until it swelIed into
wild, barbarous chant. timed by the reg
ular beats OF the heavy drum. slight
commotion followed, the front curtains
of all the poloss were all thrown up. and
women stationed themselves in detach>
ments of two or three at the entrance OF
each polog, and took up the willow
branches which had been provided. In
moment venerable native whom we
presumed to be the father of one of the
parties. emerged from one 0, the pologs
near the door. leading a good-looking
young x prak and the dark faced bride.
Upon their appearance the excitement
increased to the pitch Of frenzy, the mu-
sic redoubled its rapidity the men in
the center OF the tent joined in the un
couth chant and tered at short inter
walls peculiar shrill cries Of wild excite>
ment. AT given signal from the na~
tive who had let out the couple, the
bride darted suddenly into the first po>
log, and began rapid flight around The
tent, raising tn curtains between the
pologs successively, and passing under.
The bridegroom instantly followed in
hot pursuit but the women who were
stationed IN each compartment threw
! every possible impediment IN his way
j tripping up his unwsry feet, holding
down the curtains to prevent his pas
sage, and applying the willow and alder
switches unmerciiully to very slscep-
tible part of his body as he stopped to
raise them. The air was filled with
! drumbeats, shouts of encoura cement and
derision and the sound of the heavy
blows which were administered to the
unlucky bridegroom by each successive
detachment of women as he ran the
gauntlet. 1t became evident at once that
| despite his most violent Efforts he would
| fail to overtake the hying Atlanta before
she had completed the circuit Of the tent.
Even the golden apples of Hesperides
would have availed him little against
such disheartening odds but with un>
| dismayed perseverance, he presses on.
stumbling headlong over the outstsetch-
| ed feet OF his female prosecutors, and
getting constantly enLangled in the am
| pie folds of tre reindeer-skin curtains,
| which were thrown with the skill OF q
matador over his head and eyes In a
moment the bride had entered the last
closed po os near the ,or. while the un
| fortunate bridegroom was still strugg ing
with his accumulating misfortu nes about
| half way around the tent. | expected 10
| see him relax his efforts and give up the
contest when the bride disappeared, and
| was preparing to protest strongly in his
| behalf against the unfairnesS of the trial
but, to my surprise, he still struggled
on, and with tiaal plunge burst thro'
the curtains ofthe last polog and rejoin>
| ed his bride. The music suddenly ceas-
| ed, aud the throng began to stream out
of the tent. The ceremony was evident
| ly over. Turning to Meroneff, who wit
delighted grin had watched It's progress,
| we inquired what it all meant Were
| they married ?'-Da's,' was the affirma- a-
tive reply. But, we objected, he didn'.
catch her. She waited for him, your
honor, in the las, polog, and if he caught
| her there 1t was enough Suppose he
| had NOT caught her there, then what ?
! Then, answered the Cossack, with an
| expressive shrug of commiseration, the
Caidnak ipoor feliow) would have had
| TO work two more years This was
| p'easant-for the bridegroom To work
two years for a wife, undergo severe
course of willow sprouts at the close of
|
cufity against possible breach of prom-
ise on the part of the bride. His faith
i'll her constancy must be unlimited.