The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-24
Strange Wedding Customs.

A WRITER in the International RevieaO
gives the following account of the GUS
toms which prevail in the love-making
and marriages of the Noefours of New
Gainea: .-rt
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 convenience alone when
they alliance their children-most fire.
quently at very tender age. When
the arrangement is completed the be-
| trothed are forbidden to associate with
each other. The etiquette which regu-
lates the affair is very rigorous, and
presses heavily upon the little fiancees.
They are forbidden to look at each other,
and it is enjoined upon the young
| girl so to arrange matters that
her future husband can not see her.
When they meet each other on the road
AN accident which can not fail to oc-
cur occasiorally-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 until 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 SIM
pie courtesy which gives the law in these
regions demands that they turn their
backs, and look steadfastly in opposite
directions. The betrothed must also
axv.NtA oil Al
both masculine and feminine, of the
family into which they are about to en-
ter. From the future father-in-law and
the 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 COM
rades called him back. sit is nothing"
they said, s'only his brothers future
mother-in-law is going by!"
But let us return to the betrothals.
Marriages in Noefourian life are not
celebrated without splendor and parade,
although their wedding ceremonies are
characterized by a reserve and mod
esty very remarkable in savage peo-
pie of the tropics Adorned with the
most beautiful ornaments, the bride is
conducted 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
home of her betrothed. 1t is a symbol
of slavery--a souvenir of the ancient
servitude which the aristocratic class,
everywhere conservative of the tradi-
tons of the past, has preserved. Mar
rlages among the lower classes are diff
ferently conducted. In this case, the
procession starts from the house of the
bridegroom, who leads a crowd of rela-
tives and friends, each one bearing a
present. The procession begins to
march at nightfall--for it must be made
with torches, classical emblem of the
hymeneal fires. On reaching their
destination, the bridegroom is pre-
sented to the J. BRIDES relatives,
who lead him into her chamber.
She awaits him with her back turned,
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 numer-
Gus assembly, 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 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
word. 1t is a 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 previous night, in order
to repeat the performance the second
night, and the third, and even the fourth,
without being permitted to relipquish
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 marriage is
considered accomplished, and the
newly-wedded pair receive the custom
airy congratulations Not till the fol-
lowing night do the watchers leave
them; and then the husband is bound
in honor to slip away before dawn,
since his bride can not be expected yet
to endure a second time in broad day
light his terrible look. She will not
dare to meet his gaze until after an in
terval of four more days azd nights. So
much modesty would not be suitable for
slaves. They throw themselves into
each other's arms. and all is done.