Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-07-13

too, is the courtship of which the wedding
. is the consummation. Thclittle Towkani
arc betrothed ut an early age, nnt
when that takes place two strips arr
torn from aroll bright-colorod cloth ant
these the aflianced pair wear afterwards
as armlots or garters. So much i'm
portanco is attached TO this "engage
ment ring" that should either of the
young people lose or be deprived of II
1t is necessary to impanel n jury oi
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 necklace of shells or
beads, to which one is added each year,
that correct count may be kept of their
arriving ut marriageable age. As the
happy day approaches the preparations
are made.
There is only ono "wedding ring" in
Towka, and that is situated in the cen
ter of the village. 1t is not composed
OF gold, but of Jumps of stone, and it is
perhaps hundred yards in circumfcr-
ence, and in the middle is erected n
conical-shapod hut, before the aperture
to which is hung u 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 ut pre-
sent, in charge of tho matrons
of tho tribe. The ardent young fell
low has made himself as smart as his
circumstances will permit, and he car
rles a 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 nm
other present, until tho women-folk
within are so busy examining the finery
that they forget their Jealous guard
OF the door and leave it open. This is
tho bridegroom's opportunity. He
| dashos in, scizing 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. Burdcned as he is,
| he has to make for the 'wcdding ring
| and the old women, swarming out of
the hut, are after him, screaming and
| threatening. If they catch him and
compel him to rclinquish 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
molesG him. Then commences the mer-
ry-making, of which wine-bibbing is the
most conspicuous feature, and in the ar
rangements for which tho Towkans
show themselves much superior to the
puny efforts of civilization in the same
direction. Bottles or bowls do not sat
ica 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 II sufficient number of calabashes
are set floating. To the invigorating
strains of music-the instruments con-
sisting of Il sort of pickle-jar with n
drumhead, and whistles made out of
bamboo-the 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-beaker, 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
the hut, and, at signal, commence to
pull II down about the ears of the young
couple within. On this the happy hus-
band shoulders his wife, and, amidst
much hallooing and mirth, bears her
home.
In his volume, "Ten Years in Ethi-
opia," Mr.. Hutchinson makes us ac-
quainted with the ceremony of rnatri-
mony as observed at Fernando Po. A
Crown Princess, the daughter of the
King of lssapoo, was about to make n
connubial contract with an eligible
swain while the European gentleman
above mentioned was in the neighbor-
hood, and he was invited to be present
at the great event. He was introduced
to the bridegroom while that supremely
happy individual was bring dressed for
the occasion by his mother-in-law in
prospective. She had adorned his ebony
body and arms with profusion of
'Tshibbu" strings, and then proceeded
to plaster him with putty-like paste
made from tola, he meanwhile holding
in one hand and contemplating with IA
steadfast gaze a kidney-shaped piece of
yam, in which was stuck Il red feather.
1t is a Ferdinandian belief that person
is never in such peril from evil inilu-
ences as when he is on the eve of taking
II wife, and the feather surmounted yam
is supposed to have counteracting inilu-
ence. His toilet completed he was led
| out to meet his bride. Her bridal attire
consisted-first, of fine coating OF
white cement that covered her face and
the upper part of her body, and then Il
veil of little shells strung together was
thrown over her head, covering her face
TO the chin. Over this again, by way
of a wedding bonnet adorned with or
ange blossoms, was II helmet made of
cowhide, and so arrayed she stood in the
open, under blazing sun, in the
presence of friends and rel