Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-09
CONTINUED from first page. i

ASontLhea paEesl
tranple or fall over them. Having rest
ed and RECALLED ourselves with hot rum
of which the chief of the party partook
copiously-we were informed that the
ceremony of Nekachkaete. or the inter-
change Of property between the contract
ing parties and their parents, was about
TO take place. Accordingly, we emerged
from the low. dog-kennel-like door into
the cool, clear air, glad indeed to be free
from the poisonous vapors inside, ana
weuded our way TO the council chamber,
which consisted of circular wall OF snow
some seven feet high, the snow being TAX
en- from the inside of the circle to build
the walls. In the centre OF the circle
was placed the property belonging to the
bridegroom. consisting OF two canons,
spears, bows and arrows, rifle with a
broken lock, IL otter skins, 60 fur seal
skins, an army overcoat. fishing tackle,
and several hundred pounds of walrus
tusks-the whole representing in value
some 5000. These, by the canons OF the
faith, must be duplicated by the parents
OF the bride. in order TO induce the bride
groom to undertake SO difficult a task as
the maintenance of family in those
regions. Accordingly, there soon entered
a train of men. bearing as near as could
be duplicate OF each article in the group,
but as some difficulty was found to dupi-
cate the army-overcoat, we gladly passed
in our enormous plug hat to take up the
collection. The advent of the bell-topper
was received with universal JOY by the
crowd, and It was the cause of some of
the most ludicrous actions ever beheld.
One lady insisted on putting her baby into
it. while another said it was for drinking
purposes. a third thought it was boot.
while all agreed that it was wonderful
aifair-as it was, for it had done service
for our local minstrel stage for years and
came aboard packed with one of the mems
washing on leaving San Francisco.
The question of dover being settled be-
tween the parents, it being necessary to
trot out the happy fair one under United
States Army blanket, where she had been
seated. She proceeded to inspect each
article of the groom's portion with crit
ical eye; when she came to the hat she
laughed outright and turning to our in
terpreter, asked its use on being told,
she put 1t on her head and retained it
throughout the ceremony. The groom
now appeared. followed by his brothers
and sisters. all of whom embraced the
bride in kindly manner, and passed such
compliments as were BETTING; then a
pause by cor.mon consent; death like
silence reigned, broken only by the roar
of the the surf or the cry OF the Onalaska
wolf and occasionally the howl of the Arc
tic wolf in the far interior. 50 oppressive
in fact was the silence that it was with a
feeling of relief we noticed breaking
away ut the main entrance, and watched
the crowd grovel on the ground in all
conceivable shapes. Shortly there enter
ed in perfect silence a cortege drawing
dog sled in which was seated the high
priest OF the tribe, and more villainous
looking object | never beheld. He was
stripped to the waist and was smeared
with oil and coloring matter in stripes
which gave him the appearance of Chi
nese joss on his head was tiara of bears
claws surmounted by an enormous polar
bears head. On his shoulders were
placed erect on end two large walrus
tusks, fanciiully decorated with stripes of
red flannel which had been obtained from
the clothing of drowned sailor washed
ashore. The lower part OF the body was
covered with otter skins, over which were
spread number of young seals all alive
and barking; in the right hand he held a
spear, which he waved loft in theatre
cal manner, while with his left he motion
ed to the bride and groom to approach
him. The whole concourse arose, and
with shouts of gladness capered around
the priests chariot. Thus he submitted
to for space of ten minute, then, imperi-
onsly waving his spear, commanded ST.
lence. The groom was now directed to
PROSTATE himself upon the earth upon his
back, and the bride directed to place her
right foot upon his throat. which she did
evidently with reluctance.
While in this position the priest instruct
ed the groom that such was to be his fate,
trodden under foot by men, should he ever
prove untrue to his unplighted troth. He
was then permitted to rise, and directed
10 approach the old chief. who placed "a
spear at his breast, telling him it would be
his doom should he prove untrue. He
was next directed to his father, who, pro-
ducing a piece of fishing line, informed
him that be would choke to death his Off
spring should he ever prove unfaithful
Then. to cap the climax, he was directed
to face the entire tribe, who brandishing
their spears. yelled at the top of their voices
vengeance on him in the event of unfaith-
HUBS. nj tuls JubSiulC luc y dppti-
emily overcome with emotion, dropped on
the ground, and, bowling his head TO the
earth, cried 81 will be true" until raised
to his feet by the bride.
1t now remained to catechize the bride
and administer the admontions according
to their faith, which were in the following
manner: A number of women came for
ward, and. brandishing knives of ivory,
admonished her with all sorts of horrible
threats, to which she listened in silence.
Then, turning to the priest. she spoke her
obligation, ended by calling her future
husband to her and embracing hm-as is
the custom-instead of kissing BY this
time we were glad TO get under cover, for
it was bitter cold, and the foregoing cere-
mony had occupied fully an hour. Re-
entering the chiefs house we found it
transformed into banquet-hall, the floor
and all available space around being COW
cred with steaming shells. containing such
mess as would puzzle Chinese chef de
cuisine; SO closely were the dishes placed
upon the ground that it became necessary
to pick ones steps to the point allotted,
and taking up the nearest dish, squat down