The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-09-07
TIE WEDDING RIM
SCENES At A MARRIAGE FEAST =,
CENTRAL AMERICA !"

Only One wedding Ring. IN
Hundred Yards in c'rcumfersnes-c,s
turing the hride-Primitive Music. N.Y. -'
Making and. Wine Eibb,ng.
Travellers who have visited ror,-
Central America, and enjoyed tho "; In
OF being present at a marriage feast 'a a.nlese
In describing the latter as a mos+ concur
performance. Singular, too, Ia tho a.aszns
OF which the wedding is the cons,,N"ehip
The little Towkans are betrotbed e4naton,
age, and when that takes place tua aa early
torn from a roll of bright colorad o aIlIps are
these the aftianced pair wear afterwars'a and
armlets or garters. So much Imports a.
attached to this Engagement rinrn anee is
should either Of the young people loso nat
deprived of it, it is necessary to imn, oro %
jury OF elders, who inquire into tho a;.ua
stances, and if there is nothing IN ,,st:.eumr
annulling Of the contract another n;as" an
the original roll is substituted. IN IRON
to this the betrothed ones wear each aoleon
lace of shells or beads, to which necS'
added each year, that correct CONT ~ Is
Kept Of their arriving at a marris oah1a %
As the happy day approaches the nre. ase'
lions are made. There is only one "wedd;as
ring' in Towka, and that is situated ~ l.ns
center of the village. It is not connoeoa Ine
gold, but OF Jumps of stone, and 1t il ner Ihol
a hundred yards in circumference ,rd
the middle is erected a conical sba,od ~ u
before the aperture to which Is hume = nu',
Of palm bark. On the marriage nom - ns
bridegroom, accompanied by bis fathar a sus
other male relatives, makes his wa n Nu
hut, where the bride is at present, in cn,r ue
Of the matrons Of the tribe. The ardaee'
young fellow has made himself "a smort
his circumstances will permit, and he carr;ss
q large bundle. This he sets down near tha
hut, at the door Of which his father knocls
It is opened first a few inches, but before 49,
old gentleman car state his business !. ~
rudely shut in his face, and, without remon'
STRANGE, he retires. Another-the hid
groom's uncle, maybe-next tries bis lnoL
with nc better success. Then the young mo,
unties his bundle, which contains present.
for the bride, and the father, tapping arsir
hands in some attractive looking art;clo'
This is not refused, and he delivers anotbo.
and still another present, until the wono,'
folk within are so busy examining the anerr
that they forget their Jealous guard Of tho
door and leave It open.
THE BR1DEGRooM's OPPORTUNITY,
This is the b~ridegroom's opportunity. IA
dashes in. selling On his beloved one-vbo
Of course, is not unwilling, clasps her in ha
arms, and bears her off. But be has to ha
quick. Burdened as he is, he has to mako
for the wedding ring" and the old women
swarming out Of the hut, are after him
screaming and threatening. II they catch
him and compel him to ~relinquish his pre.
cious load, all that has gone before is a.
naught. He forfeits his presents, and thu
preliminaries have to be gone through all
over again. Once within the magic circle.
however, the head man himself dare not ma.
lest him. Then commences the merry max.
ing, of which wine bibbing is the most con.
s%picuous 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 a friends espousal-ho raust
have q boatful OF the inspiring beverage. A
canoe is brought to the edge Of the wedding
ring and filed 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 a 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 ~calabashes ant
tippling without stint until it is esnptied
The fun generally lasts until it is dark, an.
then, with torches made of pine splints, til
company enter the ring and dance round tn
hut, and, at a signal, commence to pull
down about the ears Of the young coupl
within. On this the happy husband shoul
ders his wife, and, amidst much hallooin4
and mirth, bears her home.-London Tele
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