Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-20
An Usage Marriage.

In marrying among the Usage In
, dams, the first preliminary is to fall il
love, as some civilized people do. Ant
this must happen without the help o
any modern appliances.
The youth and maidens are not al
lowed to even spe-k to each other. The
Young warrior, therefore, with tender
heart, can only look upon the winsome
maiden from distance, and though he
may touch her hand in plays, there Can
be no sentimental walks among the
moonbeams. They are out of tie
question.
When a youth is smitten. the unwrit.
ten law requires him first to coptile
the secret to his mother.
If she does not approve, the flame is
smothered unceremoniously; but if she
does approve, she lays the matter be-
fore her liege lord, and family con-
sultatlon follows.
II the father also takes favorable
view of the matter, the youth goes of
on hunt, and returns as soon as pos
sible with the most eatable fawn he can
kill. The choicest parts of this his
mother dresses and cooks in the most
elegant and tempting manner known to
Indian culinary art.
This the youth puts in basket, and
going in the night, leaves it near the
tent where his beloved dwells. He
then hides in the brush, or climbs u
distant tree where he can watch the re-
suit.
In due time, the innocent maid
awakes to find the tempting "deer
awaiting her. AT first, of course-true
to her girlish instlncts-she will not
touch it; but after awhile curiosity
triumphs, and she takes peep into
the basket. She wonders how it would
taste; smells it; and finally, though no
Satanic tempter is nigh, his Eve sooner
or later takes the fatal taste.
As soon as she has tasted the meat
her betrothai is sealed. 50 in after life
she Cannot grumble when reminded
chow mother used to cook"
After rightfall hungry form, break
fastless, dinnerless, supperless, STEALTH
ly approaches the basket. Ii it is un-
touched, he has the consolation that he
is unknown, and free to try again, and
may enjoy his mothers cooking to him
self. Ii he finds the basket empty, he
returns to his home with light heart
and lies him down to Pleasant dreams.
The next morning the parents of both
parties hold u consultation. If no one
thinks of an objection, they smoke in
silence for half a day. separate, and the
wooing proceeds. But if any objec.
tions are raised. they must be settled
before any further steps can be taken.
Ii, however, the course runs smooth,
the next question is the value of the
girl. Before daylight next morning
the youth brings a pony and bitches it
near his expected's tent. On the NOR
row, if the old folks think the pony
compensates them for the loss of their
daughter, it is led away anG put with
their own herd.
If, however, the pony is left standing
during the following night, the lover
takes it away and returns before day
light next morning with two ponies. If
these are enough. they are taken away
during the day, but if not, they are left
standing, to be removed at night and
returned next morning, each time with
an additional pony, until the price is
paid.
II the affection or earthly possessions
OF the lover should fail before the
required number of ponies are
given, then on the following morning
the ponies are missing. and the girls
parents are left to regret their avarice,
and she to pine away IN sadness.
In her affection, however, she has the
heartfelt sympathy Of her sisters, for no
girl is allowed to marry until all her
older sisters are married. Notwith-
standing this, wealthy and influential
families sometime demand several hun
dred ponies for a daughter. One-half
of the ponies 60 to the bride'sj pa
rents, and one half or its equivalent, to
her dover.
On the morning after the ponies are
accepted, our young warrior goes off for
a hunt. If the game but knew his
thoughts, they would not be likely to
regard him as very dangerous.
The brides occupation is very differ
emit. She is arrayed in new blanket,
new moccasins, with beads and feath.
ers as snowy as the family can afford
placed on her fathers war. horse, and
Ac0 hOoub tuo UVWu lOllOWcu ny pro-
cession of relations, friends, envious
girls, and the inevitable small boy.
After having passed in front of every
tent in the village, she is led to q tent
prepared by her parents for the new
family.
Here four strong men hold blanket
by the corners close beside the horse
the priest mutters awhile to himself
then fires gun at her head, aiming sc
AS to come as near as possible, and no,
hit it.
The bride gracefully tumbles into
the blanket as it dead, and the corners
of the blanket are tied together so thai
she cannot escape. She is then carried
into the tent, and when the groom re-
turns he is admitted and they are
fastened up till next day YOUTH
Companion.