Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-06-11
Weddings in New Guinea.

Among the islanders marriages are not
made according to the inclination or by
the free choice of the young people, put
at the wish of their families, who consult
their convenience alone when they
Alliance their ehildren-most frequently
at A yery tender age When the arrange
ments are completed, the betrothed are
forbidden to associate with each other.
The etiquette which regulates the affair
is very rigorous, and presses heavily
upon the little ,fances. They are forbid
den to look at each other, and it IS ell
Joined upon the young girl so to arrange
matters that her future husband cannot
see her. When they meet each other on
the road-an accident which cannot fail to
occur occasionally -the girl, who rarely
goes out alone, being warned by her com
pauions. is bound to keep herself hidden
behind tree or bushes, from the time
that her future lord and master comes III
sight till he passes by.
1t happens often that the two are OF the
same company-for instance, when they
cross from one island to another in the
same boat. Then the childlike and sim
pie courtesy which gives the law in the
these regions demands that they turn their
backs. and look steadfastly in opposite
directions. The betrothed must also
avoid all contact with the members both
masculine and feminine, of the family
into which they are about to enter. From
the future father-in-law and the future
mother-in-law they must guard them
selves as from the plague. One day when
Mr. Van Hasselt was in his school, one of
the boys suddenly threw himself under
the table, where he remained motiontless.
Not knowing what to think, the frighten-
ed teacher was rushing to the child, when
his comrades called him back. at Is
nothing" they said, ''only brother s
future mother-in-law is going by!' and
they explained to the astonished foreigner
that if the boy should SO much as look at
this expected relative, his brothers .fdn-
cce would have a child before the mar
riage
But LET us return to the betrothals.
Marriages in Nefourian high life are not
celebrated without splendor and parade,
although their wedding ceremonies are
characterized by reserve and mod
esty very remarkable III a savage people
of the tropics. Adorned with the most
beautiful ornaments, the bride is conduct
ed through the village One woman,
having seized her by the legs, carries her
on her back while another binds her
arms as though she were captive, and
leads her by rope to the house OF her
betrothed 1t it is a symbol OF slavery
Il souvenir of the ancient servltude which
the aristocratic class, everywhere con-
servative of the traditions of the past, has
preserved Marriages among the lower
classes are differently conducted In
this case. the procession starts from the
house OF the bridegroom. who leads a
crowd of relatives and friends, each one
bearing a present. The procession be
gins to march at nightfall, for it must
be made with torches, classical emblem
of the hymeneal fires.
On reaching their destination, the
bridegroom is presented to the bride
relatives, who lead him into her cham
Der. She awaits him with her back, turn
ed, indicating that she does not dare to
meet his conquering gaze. The young
man approaches till within two feet OF
her. turns on his heel, and they are back
to back, in the midst OF numerous
assembly, the men on one side, the wo-
men on the other After the entertain
ment the bride Is led into her own room,
still not daring to meet the terrible glance
Of her husband, and keeping her back
turned to the door; seeing which, the
husband also turns his back upon her.
The whole night is spent in this manner.
They sit there motionless, having some
one to brush away the flies, and without
speaking a word. 1t is veritable watch
on their arms. If they grow sleepy,
some one of the assistants, who take turns
in doing this service, nudges them with
his elbow if they keep wide awake, the
bridal pair are assured of long life and
green old age.
In the morning they separate, still
without looking at each other, to refresh
themselves after the fatigues of the pre-
vious night, in order to repeat the per-
Torrance the second night, and third,
and even the fourth, without being per-
mitted to relinquish the siege. On the
fifth morning, with the first rays OF the sun,
the young people at last look each other
full in the face. That suffices; the mar
riage is considered accomplished, and the
newely- welded pair receive the customary
congratulations. Not till the following
night do the watchers leave them and
then the husband is bound in honor to
slip away before dawn, since his bride
cannot be expected yet to endure a sec
ond time in broad daylight his terrible
look. She will not dare to meet his gaze
until after an interval of four more days
and nights. So much modesty would
not be suitable for slaves. They throw
themselves into each others arms, and
all Is ne.-InternatiOnai RerieaO.