The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-27
SOME MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
Isl. Louis Republican,
LA COuVapE

LA COUVADE.
Il There are probably few persons who woult
where q child is born, the mother is put TO Der
and tenderly nursed instead of the father Yet
such is far from being the case. There ia q
widespread custom among savages. and In
fact there are traces Of It In the north Of Spain
the south of France. In Corsica and In Swifzer.
land, where it is called ia couvade' which
demands that the father Of the newborn babe
shall be carefully nursed for several DAYS after
the birth Of the child, while the poor mother Is
left to shift for herself. This custom s
prevalent among many of the tribes Of
South America, Kamtchatka, the Chinese
81 west iannan, among the Dyaks of
| Borneo and others. The custom probably
| arises from the belief that the phvsicaI and
mental characteristics of the child arc Inherit
ed from the father. and that these are i'm
parted within a few days after birth. And as
| they, believe that during this period whatever
IS eaten or drank by the father will have an
OF his offspring. great care is taken to pre-
vent his partaking Of anything which viii
tend to Influence its future unfavorably. Thus
some sayages who are not cannibals. when
they have slain in battle some chief or war
rior OF great bravery and prowess. will eat his
body, that they may partake of his warlike
qualities, and in some parts of India the flesh
OF the tiger is eaten, not that it is reIished.
OUT SO that they may become fierce and brave
MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.
In civilized communities the courtsbips
preceding marriage Is conducted with the III
most regard for the feelings and wishes IF
the lady. as false step or rude word NAV
Danish the lover forever from the presence n
his mistress. But among savagess and semi
savage people marriage by capture. either as
terrible reality or as a custom founded uron
t.is, and through long ages shorn of its ter
rors, Is very prevalent.
Among the savages of Australia. when n
man would choose wife he goes TO the en-
oar ff.f 4tSb hoo, l.
waits In some secluded spot until a tyo,lnp
woman comes near him, when he strikes her
down with his club and carries her off before
she returns to consciousness. Sometimes a
party Oh men wiz come upon woman when
q desperate struggle will ensue for possession
Of thetprize, during which it is not unfrealent
that the poor creature Is killed
Among the Esquimaux the lover hides near
the nut OF his sweetheart. and when she comes
forth he seizes her, and she begins to kick and
scream, scratch and bite. and custom pre-
scribes that she must escape from him twice
but the third time he carries her to his sledge
and she is his wife, Among the kalmucks
the girl is mounted on a fleet horse and
spirited race ensues, which, If the lady is fae
yorable, always results in her capture, In |
New Zealand the lover asks consent of the |
relatives, and when it has been arranged he
carries OF his bride byforce, and as the girls
takes place. during which both are
often stripped to the skin. In lava
the bride Is captured by force and by payment
Of z, certain sum to the relatives she becomes
his wife and slave. Among the wild tribes of
the Malay peninsula the young couple are
brought out by some old man Of the tribe a
circle is formed, and she darts away with him
IN pursuit. Il he fails to overtake her. he for
Eets all claims, Similar customs prevail
among the aborigines Of the Amazon valley
The Terre del Fuegans the Fijians ia Korea
among the Mongols in the west of Africa. Cir
3assia, and, according to Piutarch, the custom
was once prevalent In Sparta It is said that
ormerly in Russia, Poland and Prussia. low
IFS would carry off their sweethearts bv force.
md after time return for the consent of the
parents.
POLYANDRA.
Although it is generally known that polya-
my is prevalent among many nations. vet
ew are aware of the fact that polyandra- the
marriage OF one woman to several mems
uite extensively practiced, although, of |
curse. less common than polygamy McIen-
an gives a long list of tribes which he regards
s .polyandrous, among whom are those of
,hibet, Cashmeer, the Himalayan regions. the
,odas, Coorgs, Nairs and other races of India |
$50 in Ceylon, New Zealand, among the Pacific
stands. on the Oronoco and in parts of Asia, !