Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-08-21
A Wedding in ZuIuIan6.

A Wedding i'm ZuIuIand.
Mrs Hutchinson's Trip In the Transvaal. -
The wedding was at kraal shout
two miles from the camp. Shall
ever forget that drive, as we jolted
over stones and '"shaved'' ant-hills.
and bumped in and out of holes, the
mules all the time going at full gal
lop, till we really expected that the
cart would turn over with US every
moment? But We. have grown so
used to that sort Of driving now that
we only laugh hearty and try to
avoid having our hats smashed and
our heads broken against the sides of
the wagons. AS we approached the
kraal our ears were greeted by the
shrieks, yells and howls of. the, we'd
ding party, and on surmountipg q
ridge ofground we came upon COM
pany all in "full fig" practising one
of their dances. The men wore. large
plumes of black feathers which cover.
ell their heads and hung down over
their shoulders. They had shields
covered with cowhide, and carried
sticks, which they waved and brand
ished in very warlike manner. They
were continually in motion, stamp
ing, and shouting, and at last fell
into kind of procession, which nov
ed on towards the kraal, dancing all
the way. Every now and then some
warrior, more than usually excited,
would burst from the ranks and
bound, with housekeeping action,
several yards in advance. He would
then stop, and with queer antics and
strange gyrations would go through
the motions of killing his antagonist,
continuing them amidst the plaudits
of his companions till they caught
him up, when he would fall in, only
to be succeeded by an excited rival,
eager to equal if not to outdo him.
The two sisters of the bride ele-
gantly attired in few rows of green,
white and pink beads, accompanied
this jovlal crew, shrieking and racing
about as if possessed. The father of
the bride was there too, distinguisha-
BILE from the other 'sbraves" by the
extra length of his tail of feathers,
which hung from the top of his head
and reached all down his back. AS
this interesting company proceeded
they were met by women in pairs all
dressed (?) alike IN the same charm
ing simplicity, who ran TO meet them,
screaming at the top of their voices
and making most peculiar, tremu-
lous, shrill noise, which reminded me
more of ''neighing' than anything
else. These fell into the ranks, as
did large company of young girls
and children, who all rushed 10 meet
the procession, yelling as lound as
they could and appearing to be quite
mad with excitement.
The whole body then advanced at
a majestic sort of pace, all taking one
step forward at the same moment,
raising their shields, giving stamp
and yell, and so Oh till they got to
sort of parade-ground in front of
the kraal, where they drew up in line
two or three deep, anu continued the
stamping and shouting, waving of
arms, positioning, and all the other
man9uvres, accompanying them
selves by song which consisted in
the perpetual reiteration of three
notes In a MINOR key. l have ascer-
tanned that this tune is the same which
is used by them on all similar occa-
sions.
The bride, surrounded by whole
bevy Of sisters and sympathizing
friends, knelt on mat facing the
dancers and held shield and knife
in her hand. Her dress consisted of
beads arranged with great taste and
her hair was elaborately got up with
the brass wire and palm oil of the Pc
riod. But what entertained us the
most was the blase, contemptuous
expression of her countenance, which
was evidently the highest mode for
kattir brides to assume.
Mrs. Hutchinson contrasts the
character and behavior of the Beers
in the Transvaal with those of the
Zulus, very much to the advantage Of
the latter.