News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-08-08
THE BILQULA INDIANS.
An Interesting Account of Their Sin
gular Marriage Ceremonies.

PHI. Jacobsen, in letter TO his we'll,
known brother, Capt. A. Jacobsen, gives
the following description of the marriage
ceremonies OF the Bilqula Indians oj
British Columbia. An Indian who in
tends to marry, calls upon his intended
wife's parents and arrangos with them
how much he is to pay for permission tc
marry the girl. Among people of high
descent this is done by messengers,
sometimes as many rs twenty being semi
to call on tho girls father. They are
sent by the mans parents, before the
young man is of age. In many in.
stances both man and girl are not more
than s or years old The messengers
go in their boats to the girls house, and
carry on their negotiations without going
ashore, where the relatives of the gir
arc standing. The messengers of the
young mans parents praise his excel
lenco and noble descent, the great .ex
ploits of his father, grandfather and an
cestors; their wars, victories and hunt
ing expeditions; their liberality at fcs
tivals, ETC. Then the girls relatives
praise the girl and her ancestors, and
thus the negotiations are carried on.
Finally number of blankets arc thrown
ashore by the messengers; and the girl:
relatives protest and maintain that the
number is not sufficient to pay for the
permission to marry the girl In order
to obtain their consent, new blankets
are thrown ashore one by one, the mes.
sengcrs continually maintaining that
the price paid is too great. Generally
from twenty TO fifty blankets, each OF
tho value of abont fifty cents, arc paid.
After this the boy and the girl are
considera4l nneascd-- When thny come
to be grown up the toung man has tc
serve year to his fatiIcr-in law. lie
must fell trees, fetch water, fish and
hunt for the latter. During this time
he is called Kos, which means, some
who woos. After II year has elapsed.
the marriage is celebrated. At this
time great festivals are celebrated
Seven or eight men perform dance.
They wear dancing aprons and leggins.
trimmed with pllilin-bcaks, hoofs o.
deers, copper plates and bells. If the
groom should be Il wealthy man, who
has presented to his wife many small
copper plates, such rs arc used as pro
sentS to bride, these are carried by the
dancers. The singing master, who
beats the drum, starts n song, in which
the dancers join. The song used Mt the
marriage festival is sung in unison,
while in all other dances each dancer
has his own tIno and song The first
dancer wears ring, made of cedar bark
His hair is strewn with eagle down,
which flies about when he moves and
forms cloud around his head. The
groom presents the first dancer with u
piece Of calico, which the latter tears to
pieces, which he throws down in front
Of each house of the village, crying
"Hoipl" in order 10 drive away OWL
spirits. These pieces of calico which he
throws down in front Of the houses have
lucky meaning, and Mt the same time
express the idea that the groom, when
he comes TO be wealthy man, will moi
forgot the inhabitants of any house
when giving festival The dancers
swing their bodies and arms, stamp their
feet, and show the copper plates to the
lookers-on. Then the brides father
brings great number of blankets,
generally double the number of those
he had received from the groom, and
gives them to his tlafightcr. The bride
orders few blankets to be spread before
the groom. She sits down aud he puts
his hand upon her head, Then the
groom is given for each Of the parts OF
his body one or more blankets Finally
he is given new blanket. After the
brides father has given blanket to
each dancer and to The drummer, the
villagers are invited to a great feast AT
this time groom and bride cat for the
first time together London Science.