The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-09-28
CURIOUS COURTING CUSTOMS !


n Africa. In one tribe of Eastern Africa
1t IS regarded as the ne plus ultra of gal
lantTy for the lover to parade before the
hut Of his inamorata astride of a huge
boar. Mungo Park tells of tribe in the
interior where custom compels woman to
carry calabash Of water to the man who
mas expressed a preference for her. Seated
on mat before his door he washes his
hands In the vessel, and then the woman
drinks the water as token of her affec-
tlon- Less repulsive was the act of the
lover among the ancient Persians. who
burned his hand OF cheek to prove his de-
votion. and then showed it to his lady
love. If she was "willin" she bound the
injured part with a silken scarf. but If
obdurate she sent the man to the phvs;-
clan for healing salve.
Among the Moravians it was the custom
Tor the minister to select wives for the
men OF his generation, If a ''sister had
any objection to the brother" selected for
her life partner, she was permitted to
state It, but 1t was generally overruled by
the priests eloquence. Strange to say,
the historian tells US that these marriages
were generally happy
In Greenland the services of the pastor
Of his flock are also called in. A man
who has made up his mind that his world
ly circumstances warrant him in indulg-
ing IN what has been called ''the abstract
desire of every man to furnish board and
lodging to some young lady," and has
decided which young lady he wishes to be
taxed for, calls on the reverend father and
states the case. The inquiry is made
whether the girl knows of the suit, to
which the man replies that he has made
some preliminary love making, which was
not very kindly received, but adds: "Thou
knowest the ways of mankind" In
Greenland, be it remarked, 1t is an ac-
cepted fact in social philosophy that
woman's no means yes. The priest calls
upon the young woman and pleads the
case of her lover, assuring her that he is
q good man, that he catches many seals,
etc 1t is the custom for the woman to
reject all proposals at first, but to yield at
last an unwilling assent. If the priest
thinks she is too obstinate he generally
remarks: "Ah, well, it's no matter: | can
easily find another woman who will have
such good provider," and turns to leave,
which action brings the stubborn maiden
TO terms at once.
In St. Petersburg, Russia, custom
prevailed for many years-though de-
clned greatly in Importance, it has not
gone wholly out of use which was de-
signed to stimulate laggards in courtship.
Whit Sunday there was held in the Sum-
mer Garden, one of the city parks, fair
OF all the damsels Of the city who wanted
husbands Dressed in their best, with all
the ornaments at command, and holding
silver spoons OF other ware in their hands
to show that they were not wholly Dor
tionless, they stood in rows under the
trees, attended by parents or guardians to
insure propriety of behavior, to facilitate
matrimonial bargains. The men in search
Of wives strolled about scrutinizing all the
candidates at leisure. When a man saw
one that pleased him, he usually intro
dueed himself to her custodians, and if
his statement of family, business, habits
and prospects were satisfactory, he was
made acquainted with the young woman
and invited to her residence. After this
the nuptual ceremony followed as speed
ily as the would-be bridegroom desired.
We find a custom precisely like this
still in existence in district III. the south
of Ireland. There it is known as /" shraft-
ing" the name being derived from Shrove
Tuesday, the day on which it is held. On
that day all the manageable young peo-
pie of both sexes are marshaled on the vii
lage green by the parents, the girls In all
the glory of Sunday gowns and gay rib
bons, as lovely as. fresh-blown roses, evi-
IDENTIFY enjoying their bushes, and the
young men, also in their best attire, look
ing as foolish as only the male human can
look on exhibition. The two sexes are
stationed in line apart from each other,
and the parents pass between to vouchsafe
proposals or to receive them, and to bag
gle over marriage portions. The prefer
enees of the young people are fully
understood by the elders, and commend
able effort is made to crafty them, the
main object of the parents being to secure
as good a set-out as possible for the young
couples.
= A California miner having amassed quite
a fortune. was returning by ship to New
York to revisit old friends and find him
wife. A young woman OF board the ship,
serving in the capacity OF nursery govern
ess to the family of a merchant on board,
pleased him much by her neat and modest
appearance. He therefore introduced HIM
self one day and broke the ice of his pur-
pose with one reckless plunge " Madame,
my name Is -; my parents and family
reside in New Hampshire have proper
ty amounting to 100000, and expect to
engage in business in -. am perfect
" temperate man, and can give you good
reference to testify of my general upright
character. l am unmarried and want a
wife. VIII you marry me?" The lady took
in the character of her sutton at once
e Thank you" said she, " will" and on
landing they were forthwith married.
The Rev. Richard Hooker had no time