Middletown transcript., 1870-06-25

Dut VIC Will leave the praying machln
and turn to the courtship and marriag
customs of the Thibetans.
The maiden has q certain start givei
which she avails herself of to gain a sufi
cient distance from the crowd to enabl
her to manage her steed with freedom, s,
as to assist in the pursuit of the suito
whom she prefers. On signal from tn,
father, all the horses gallop after the fai,
one, and whoever first succeeds in encir.
cling her waist with his arm, no matter
whether disagreeablc or not to her choice,
is entitled to claim her as his wife. After
the usual delay incident upon such occa-
sions, the maiden quits the circle of her
relations, and putting her steed to hand
gallop darts into an open plain. When
satisfied with her position, she turns round
to the impatient youths, and stretches out
her arms towards them as if to WOO their
approaches. This is the moment for giving
the signal to commence the chase, and
each of the impatient youths, dashing his
pointed heel into his courser's side, darts
like the unhooded hawk in pursuit of his
fugitive dove. The savanna is extensive,
full twelve miles long and three in width,
and as the horsemen speed across the
plain, the favorite lover becomes soon ap-
parent by the efforts of the maiden to
avoid all others who approach her. At
length, after near two hours racing, the
number of fpursuers is reduced to four or five
who are all together, and gradually gain
on the pursued. With them is the favor
ite; but sometimes, alas his horse sud-
denly falls in his speed and as she anx-
iously turns her head, she perceives with
dismay the hapless position of her lover.
Each of the more fortunate leaders, eager
with anticipated triumph, bending his
head on his horses name, shouts at the
top of his voice. " l come, my Peri! Tn
your lover"
But she, making a sudden turn, and
lashing her horse almost to fury, darts
across their path, and makes for that of
the plain where her lover is vainly endeav-
oring to goad on his weary steed. The
others instantly check their career; but in
the hurry to turn back, two of the horses
are dashed furiously against each other
so that both steeds and riders roll over
the plain. The maiden laughs (for she
knows she can elude a single horseman,)
and flies to the point where her lover is.
But her onl y pursuer is rarely mounted,
and not so easily shaken off. Making a
last and desperate effort, he dashes along
side the maiden, and stretching out his
arm he almost wins his unwilling prize
but she, bending her head to the horses
neck, eludes his grasp, and wheels off.
Ere the discom6tted horseman can ap-
proach her, her lovers arm is around her
waist, and, amidst the shouts of the spec
tators, they turn towards home.
A spirited way of winning a bride and
a good test of horsemanshp. Sometimes
the maiden takes lamb or kid on her lap,
and is claimed when the pursuer is able to
snatch the burden from her charge. 1t
will be observed that the lady is mounted
on her horse in the same manner as the
men. The style will delight the hearts of
somo Of our female reformers, and give
them another argument for the adjustment
of all kinds of CASTE If ladies can ride as
graceful as the girls are represented to do,
we should not complain if they chose the
same method of showing their horseman-
ship But she will be bold woman who
sets the example.
Some of the animals of Thibet are pecu-
liar. One called the yak, has, for some
time past, been subjected to series of ex-
periments in France, with a view to ascer-
tanning whether the propagation can be
made profitable. Several years ago herd |
of these animals was presented to the So
ciety of Acclimation. The yak is about
seven feet long and four high. 1t resem-
bles the OK, but has bushy tail like the
horse its hair curls like some kinds of
wool, and it INDUCES in a peculiar grunt,
which might easily be mistaken for that of
hog. The wandering tribes of Tartars
hold the yak of high value, because it is
sure-footed beast of burden, and the fe-
male yields rich milk, the butter from
which has become quite an article of mer-
chandise. Its meat has flavor somewhat
resembling that of venison. The wild
yak of Thibet is found near the snow-line
of the mountains, and it is not improbable
that this animal would be found of great
use if introduced into the mountain regions
of the western part of the United States.
The experiment is worth trying unless it
cost the government too much money,
which can hardly be afforded at the pres
ent time.
Wild boars are numerous in Thibet and
hunted for their flesh and the sport which
they create. Englishmen are quite fond
of risking their lives and limbs for the
sake of sticking tough old boar, which
shows fight and is always dangerous
Spears arc used by the hunters in their
encounters with the animals, and some
times it happens that the latter is victo-
rious in spite of terrible wounds. An an
cry boar, on the charge, is not to be de-
spised, for he fears nothing, has terrible
tusks, and with them can rip open horse
Or man in short order. The only way to
avoid them is to keey one side, and spear
the brute as he passes. English officers,
however, always hunt in company. and