The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-07-13

II
brides parents to return three of the
presentation cattle-one In considers
ton of the ornaments the young girl has
been in the habit of wearing and which
are now divided among her sisters; one
as sacrifice to the names of the bride
groom's ancestors TO obtain their con.
sent to the marriage, and the third to
help fill up the wide gap in the herd
that supplied the presentation beasts.
Travellers who have visited Towka. il
Central America. and enjoyed the priv
ilege of being present at a marriages
feast, concur in describing the latter as
a most amazing performance. Singular
too, is the courtship of which the wedding
is the contamination. The little Towkans
are betrothed at an early age. and
when that takes place two strips are
torn from aroll bright-colored cloth and
these the afianced pair wear afterwards
as armlets or garters. So much i'm
portance ia attached to this ''engage-
ment ring" that should either of the
young people lose or be deprived of it
it is necessary to impanel jury of
elders, who inquire into the circum-
stances, and if there is nothing to justi-
fy an annulling of the contract another
piece from the original roll is substitute
ed. In addition to this the betrothed
ones wear each a necklace of shells or
beads, to which one is added each year.
that correct count may be kept of their
arriving at a manageable age. As the
happy day approaches the preparations
are made.
There is only one ''wedding ring" in
Towka, and that is situated in the CEN
ter of the village. It is not composed
of gold, but of Jumps of stone, and it is
perhaps hundred yards in circu,nfer-
ence, and in the middle Is erected a
conical-shaped hut, before the aperture
to which is hung mat of palm bark.
On the marriage morn the bridegroom,
accompanied by his father and other
male relatives. makes his way to the
hut, where the bride is at pre-
sent, in charge of the matrons
of the tribe. The ardent young fell
low has made himself as smart as his
circumstances will permit, and he car
ries large bundle. This he sets down
near the hut, at the door of which his
father knocks. 1t is opened first few
inches, but before the old gentleman
can state his business it is rudely shut
in his face. and, without remonstrance,
he retires. Another-the bridegroOm's
uncle. may be-next tries his luck, with
no better success. Then the young man
unties his bundle. which contains pres
ents for the bride, and the father, tap
ping again. hands in some attractive
looking article. This is not refused,
and he delivers another, and still an
other present, until the women-fOlk
within are 80 busy examining the finery
that they forget their Jealous guard
of the door and leave it open. This is
the bridegroom's opportunity. He
dashes in, Selling on his beloved one
who. of course, is not unwilling clasps
her in his arms and bears her off. But
he has to be quick. Burdened as he is,
he has to make for the wedding ring"
and the old women, swarming out of
the hut. are after him, screaming and
threatening. If they catch him and
compel him to relinquish his precious
load, all that has gone before is as
naught. He forfeits his presents,
and the preliminaries have to
be gone through all over again.
Once within the magic circle.
however the head man himself dare not |
modest him. Then commences the mer-
ry-naking. of which wine-bibbing is the |
most conspicuous feature, and in the ar
for which the Towkans |
show themselves much superior to the |
puny efforts of civilization in the same |
direction. Bottles or bowls do not sat
isfy this noble savage of Central Amer
lea when he wishes to do honor to a |
friends espousal-he must have boat
full of the inspiring beverage. A canoe
is brought to the edge Of the wedding |
ring and filled with palm wine thickened
with honey and crushed plantain. in
which a sufficient number of calabashes
are set floating. To the invigorating
strains of music-the instruments con-
sisting of a sort of pickle-jar with a
drumhead. and whistles made out of
friends and relations of
the newly-wedded pair (who contem-
plate the exciting scene from the before
mentioned hut in the middle) join hands
and indulge in dance and frolic round
the mighty wine-bealker. dipping in the
calabashes and tippling without stint
until it is emptied. The fun generally
lasts until it is dark, and then, with
torches made of pine splints, the COM
pany enter the ring and dance around
he hut. and, at signal. commence to
pull it down about the ears of the young
couple within. On this the happy hus-
,and shoulders his wife, and. amidst
much hallooing and mirth. bears her
home.
In his volume, s.Ten Years in ETH.
,pia," Mr.. Hutchinson makes us ac-
luainted with the ceremony of matri-
nony as observed at Fernando Pc. A
crown Princess, the daughter of the
King of IssapOO, was about to make a
,onnubial contract with an eligible
vain while the European gentleman
lb0ve mentioned was in the neighbor-
lood. and he was invited to be present
It the great event. He was introduced
o the bridegroom while that supremely
lappy individual was being dressed for