Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-06-25
A T0ngthOO Wedding.

Early one morning VIC went to see q
Tongthoo marriage, having obtained an
invitation from the bride. When we
reached her house, we were met by
man dealing out lemonade or
limenade who would not let
us pass till we drank some. I'M
mediately we were met by another man,
who offered us each bunch of plantains,
a handful of betel leaves, nuts, etc., and
q large pinch of kind of vegetable
wiltcd over the fire. When we had
taken these things to carry, we were al
lowed to pass up tho ladder into the
house. In the front room or veranda,
the men were sitting on mats, feasting
on the good things Gas they call them)
set before them, just such things rs had
been given to us. Afterwards we passed
into the ladies' room, which was really
the kitchen, where was q fireplace with
little fire and much smoke. The floor
was well covered with dirt, and the
women were sitting on 1t all around tho
room. | found space for sitting between
the napee jar and woman smoking;
but rs / had put on n clean dress for the
occasion, | did not like to sit on the
dirty floor, SO, after standing awhile, l
put my umbrella down and sat on that,
after which mat was brought me to sit
on. As the smoke was preferable to the
smell of napee, turned friendly face
to the woman smoking. A tray was
placed in the midst of the company,
into which they dropped their piece,
which, | suppose, was to go toward pay
ing for the feast.
After waiting sonre time-an hour, ]
think-two men came into the room,
distributing various articles-tobacco,
betel, plantains and another kind Of
vegetable cut up fine-and then fol
| lowed man with the lid of betel-box
and bottle, pouring out and dealing
the contents of the bottle In tho box
lid to the company. When it came to
me, 1t looked so much like water, and
had so little smell, that l touched my
| lips to it and found it strong spirits, so
our party declined to drink, though
urged very strongly. Pretty soon we
heard great shouting and laughing out
side; and, looking over the wall, we
saw that the bridegroom had arrived,
but was not allowed to come up the lad
der till his friend had paid money to
those who hold silk handkerchief
across the top Of the ladder. After
much talking and much fun, the hand
kerchief was withdrawn and the BRIDE
gr-om came up the ladder, where he
found his way again stopped before
the door of the ladies' room, until he
had paid two rupees. Having been
finally admitted he was instructed TO
sit on the floor with his groomsman
1 L. al - ~ tnh
two little betel-box-lids, filed with
spirits and ball OF cotton
yarn. After while, the bride came
out of the bedroom, opening into
the room, and with her bridesmaid
sat down opposite the two men: Then
an old man, who also sat by the tray,
took the ball of yarn, dipped the end in
the cup of spirits, and wound around
the bridegroom's wrists, muttering over
something rs he did so. After four or
five windings to each wrist, he again
dipped the end into the spirits, touched
the mans hand with It, and proceeded
TO wind the brides wrists In the same
manner. Then he treated the grooms-
man and bridesmaid just the same, after
which they were all made TO hold their
hands before them, touching the tray,
the men holding theirs cup-shaped, and
the girls holding theirs open with one
laid In the other, while the old man NUT.
tered away for three or five minutes.
He then took the two cups, put one into
the hands of tho bridegroom the Other
into the brides hands, and they were
made to sip, and then exchange cupi
! and sip again, exchanging and slipping
until they seemed tired and put the cupI
down of their own accord, when they
were taken up and presented to the
groomsman and bridesmaid to sip and
exchange as tho married couple hat
done. Then the old man gathered W
all the money on the tray into betel
box, and presented IL to the husband
with little speech, and he presented Il
to his wife, and she took IL into hel
room, which ended the ceremony. Tit
young husband and his friends got W
and returned home. and we followed
their example, bringing our plantain'
with us.--Cor. Albany Argus.
. The Portland Oregonidn speaks O