The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-07-27

Among the islanders marriages are not
made according to the inclination Or by the
free choice of the young people, but at the
wish of their families, who consult their con-
venience alone when they alliance their chill
dren-most frequently at a very tender age.
When the arrangement is completed, the be-
trothed are forbidden to associate with each
other. The etiquette which regulates the
affair is very rigorous, and presses heavily
upon the little ~Jfances. They are forbidden
to look at each other, and il is enjolned upon
the young girl so to arrans 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 companions, is bound to keep herself
hidden behind a tree or bushes, from the
time that her future lord and master comes
in sight till he has passed 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 simple courtesy which
gives the law in 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 fath~er-in-law and future mother-in-
law they must guard themselves 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
motionless. Not knowing what to think, the
frightened teacher was rushing to the child,
when his comrades callAd him back. "It is
nothing" they said, "only his brothers.
future mother-in-law is going by y and they
explained to the asLonlshed foreigner that if
the boy should so much as look at this eX-
pected relative, his brothers .fdncc would
have a child before the marriage.
But let us return to the betrothals. Mar
riages in Noefourian high life are not celebra-
ted without splendor and parade, although
their wedding ceremonies are characterized
by a reserve and a nodesty very remarkable
in a savage people of the tropics. Adorned
with the most beautiful ornaments, the bride
is conducted through the village. One wo-
man, having seized her by the legs, carries
her on her back while another binds her
arms as though she We're a captive, and leads
her by a rope to the home of her betrothed.
Ii is a symbol of slavery,-a souvenir of the
ancient servituHe which the aristOcratic class,
everywhere conservative of the traditions of
the past, has preserved. Marriages among
the lower class 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 begins to march at
nightfall,-for it must be made with torches,
classical emblems of the hylnenial fires.
On reaching their destination. the bride
groom is presented to the brides relatives,
who lead HIM into her chamber. She awaits
with her back turned, indicating that
she dare not meet his conquering gaze. The
young man approaches till within two feet of
her, turns on his heel, and they arc back to
hant- in fhn ypiISf Of n nlp,nrnuS nSSnp,hly
the men on one side, the women on the
other. After the entertainment,
the bride is led into her own room, still not
daring to meet the terrible glance of her lius-
band, and keeping her back to the door
seeing which, the husband also turus his
back upon her. The whole night is spent in
this manner. They sit there m%otionless,
having some one to brush away the flies, aud
without speaking a word. 1t is 4 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 awake, tile bridal pair
are assured of long life and a green old age.
In the morning they separate, still without
looking at each other, to refresh themselves
after the tatigues of the previous night, in
order TO repeat the performance the second
night, and the third, and even the fourth,
without being permitted to relinquisll 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 %suflices the
marriage is considered accomplished, and the
ne~wly-wedded 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 be
fore dawn, since his bride ann he expected
yet to endure a second 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 nodesty would
not be suitable for slaves. They throw them
selves into each Others arms, and all is done.
--[utcYuatjOnn Rccicn.