Wichita eagle., 1888-07-25
THE WEDDING RING.
SCENES At A MARRIAGE FEAST IN
CENTRAL AMERICA

Only Que wedding Ring IN Towka-A
Hundred Yards In Circumference-Csp-
turing the Rride-Primitive Music, Merry
Making and Wine Bib5inZ.
Travellers who have visited Towka, in
Central America, and enjoyed the privilege
Of being present at a marriage feast. concur
In describing tho latter as a most amazing
performance Singular, too. Is tie courtship
Of which the Wedding Is Eae contamination.
The little Towkans are betrothed at an early
age, and when that takes place two strips are
torn from a roll Of bright co}ored cloth and
these the afiacced pair weer afterwards as
armlets or ga1tera So much Importance is
attached to this engagement ring" that
should either OF TIE young people lose OF be
deprived Of il, it is necessary TO inpanel q
jury of elders. who inquire into the circum-
stances, and there is noting t. justify an
annuIling Of the contract another piece from
the original roll Is substituted. In addition
to this the be:rossed ones wear each q neck.
lace of shells or beads. to which one Is
added each year, that correct count may be
kept of their arriving at narriasaSle sge
AS the happy day approaches the preyara-
lions are made. There Is only enc wedding
ring IN Towka, and that is situated in the
center Of the village 1t is not composed Of
gold, but of humps OF stone, and 1t is perhaps
q hundred yards in circumference, and in
the middle is erected conical shaped hut,
before tho aperture to which Is hung mat
of r.lm bark. On tho marriage morn the
bridegroom. accompanied by his father and
other male relatives, makes his way to the
hut. where tho bride Is at present, in charge
of the matrons Of tae t-1he Tho ardent
Young fellow has made himself IS smart as
his circumstances viii permit, and he carries
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, witaout rernon-
STRANGE, no retires. Anothgr-shs bride
erooms uncle, n1aybe-rext tries his luck,
with no bet5er success. Taen the you.1e, T.ian
untics his bundle, which contains preSents
for the bride, and tho father, ~ rrls as5in,
hands in SOHO attractive looking arJicia
This is not refused. ard 40 dali~rTs ano5Asr.
and still another present. mail SEQ Women
folk within arc 50 busy e-1ali Xxi. the finery
that they forget their zaalosls guard Of the
door and leave it open
THE BEIDEGEOua's OPPORTUNITY.
This is the brideSroorn's opportunity. Ee
iashes in Selling on bis beloved oue-Tho,
Il course, is not unwilling, clasps her in his
arms, and bears her OFT But he has to be
quick Burdened as re is, no 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 reiEQu;sh his pre-
cious load, all that has gone before is aS
naught He forfeits his presents, and the
preliminaries have to be gone through al
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 bibblng is tue most con-
sn;cuous feature, and in the arrangements
e for which the TowKans show themselves
much superior to the puny efforts OF civiEza-
ton in the same direction.
Bottles or bowls 40 not satisfy this noble
savage of Central America wien he wishes
to do honor to a friends espousal-he mus;
have a boatfu! of the inspiring leverage. A
canoe is brought to the edge Of the wedding
ring and filed with palm wine thIckcned
with honey and crushed plaintain, in which
sufficient number OF cai&bashcs are sst Goat
ing To the invigoratlng strains OF music
the instruments consisting Of sort OF
pickle lar with drum head and whistles
made out of bamboo-the friends and reia-
lions Of the newly welded pair Cwhc co1tem-
plate the exciting scene from the before men,
toned hut in the middle, JOIN hands and IL
dulge in dance and frohc round the lulgnty
wine beaker, dipping in the calabasass and
tippling without stint until II is emptied-
The fun generally lasts until it is dark, and
then, with torches made of pine sphnts, the
company enter the ring and dance round the
hut, and, at a signal, commence TO pull il
down about the ears Of the young couple
within. On this the he?py husband shout
ders his wife. and erlcst much hal.oolns
and mirth, bears her home. -London Tale
graph.
Eccenfricities of q millionaire.