San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-11
THE WEDDING RING.
SCENES AT A MARRIAGE FEAST IN
CENTRAL AMERICA

Only One wedding Ring" In Towka-A
Hundred Yards in Circumference-Cap-
turing the Bride-Primitive Music, Merry
Making and Wine Bibbing.
Travellers who have visited Towka, in
Central America, and enjoyed the privilege
of being present at marriage feast, concur
in describing the latter as most amazing
performance Singular, too, is the courtshlp
of which the wedding is the consummatlon.
The little Towkans are betrothed at an early
age, and when that takes place two strips are
torn from roll of bright colored cloth and
these the affianced pair wear afterwards as
armlets or garters. So much Importance is
attached to this engagement 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 justify an
annulliug of the contract another piece from
the original roll is substituted In addition
to this the betrothed ones wear each neck
lace of shells or beads, to which one is
added each year, that correct count may be
kept of their arriving at a marriagable age.
As the happy day approaches the prepare
tions are made. There is only one wedding
ring" In Towka, and that is situated in the
center of the village. 1t is not composed of
gold, but of Jumps of stone and it is perhaps
Q hundred yards in circumference, and in
the middle is erected a conical shaped hut,
before the aperture to which is hung a 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 present, in charge
of the matrons Of the tribe. The ardent
young fellow has made himself as smart as
his circumstances will permit, and he carries
a large bundle This he sets down near the
hut, at the door of which his father knocks.
It is opened first a few inches, but before the
old gentleman can state his business 1t is
rudely shut in his face, and, without remon-
STRANGE, he retires Another-the bride
grooms uncle, maybe-next tries his luck,
with no better success. Then the young man
unties his bundle, which contains presents
for the bride, and the father, tapping again,
hands in some attractive looking article.
This is not refused, and he delivers another,
and still another present, until the women
folk within are so busy examining the finery
that they forget their Jealous guard of the
door and leave it open.
THE BRIDEGRooM'S OPPORTUNITY.
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
III TO
cious 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 mo-
lest him. Then commences the merry max
ing, of which wine bibbing is the most con-
spicuous feature, and in the arrangements
for which the Towkans show themselves
much superior to the puny efforts of civiliza-
ton in the same direction.
Bottles or bowls do not satisfy this noble
savage of Central America when he wishes
to do honor to friends espousal-he must
have boatful 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 plaintain, in which
a sufficient number of calabaShes are set float
ing. To the invigorating strains of music
the instruments consisting of a sort of
pickle jar with drum head, and whistles
made out of bamboo-the friends and rela-
tions of the newly welded pair (who contem-
plate the exciting scene from the before men,
toned hut in the middle) join hands and in
dulge in dance and frolic round the mighty
wine beaker, dipping in the ealabashes 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
company enter the ring and dance round the
hut, and, at signal, commence to pull it
down about the ears of the young couple
within. On this the happy husband Shout
ders his wife, and, amidst much hallooing
and mirth, bears her home.-London Tele-
cronh