The Russellville Democrat., 1889-08-15
LIE rllouLA INDIANS
An Interesting Account CT Their Mar
 rsarn Ceremonies

An Interesting Account cg Their Mar.
 rsaTs Crremonies-
 Mir Ph Jacobsen, in a letter to his well-known brother. Captain A. Jacob sen. gives the following description ot the marriage ceremonies of the Bilqn- Ia Indians of British Columbia An Indian who intends 10 marry caiis upon his intended wife's parents and arranges with them how much he is 10 pay for permission 10 marry the girl Among people Of high dascent this Is done by messengers. sometimes as many as twenty being sent 10 call on the girls father. They ara sent by the nnn's parents before the young man is of age In many instances both man and girl are not moro tthan eight or nine years old Tho messen- gers go in their boats ts inc girls house, and carry on their negotiations withont going ashore, where the reia- fives Of the girl are standing The messengers of the young mans parents praise his excellence and noble de- scent; the great exploits of his father. grandfather and ancestors; their wars. victories, and hunting expeditions; fheir libera]ity af festivals, etc Then the girls relatives praise the girl and her ancestors and thus the nerotia- fions are carried on Finally a num- Der of blankets are thrown ashore by the messengers; andjthe girls rela- tives protest, and maintain that the number is not sufficient 10 pay for the permission 10 marry the girl. In or der 10 obtain their consent, new blankets are thrown ashore one by one. the messengers continually main taining that the price paid is too great Generally from twenty to fifty blank cts. each Of the value of about fifty cents, are paid
 After that the boy and the girl are considered engaged When they come to be grown up the young man has 10 serve year to his fafher-in-law- He must fell trees. fetch water, fish and hunt fo. the lattar. During this time he is called Kos, which means 'soue who woes. After a year has elapsed the marriage is celebrated Al this time great festivities are celebrated. Seven or eight men perform a dance. They wear dancing aprons aEd leg gings, trimmed with pufin-beaks, hoofs Of deers, copper plates and bells. If tho groom should be q wealthy man. who has presented to his wife many small copper plates, such as arc used ss presents to 2 bride. these are car r;ed by the dancers, The singing mas ter, who beats the drum. starts a song in which the dancers join. The song used al the marriage festival is sung in unison. while in all other dances each dancer has his own tune and song The first dancer wears a ring made of cedar bark. His hair is sfrewn with eagle down. which flies about when he moves and forms a cloud about his head. The groom presents the first dancer with s piece of calico, which the latter tears to pieces, which he throwns down in front of each house of the village, cry ing, "TIoipt" in order to drive away evil spirits These pieces Of calico which he throws down in front Of the houses have lucky meaning. and at the same time express the idea that the groom. when he comes 10 be a wealthy man, will not forget the inhabitants Of any house when giving festival The dancers swing their bodies and arms. stamp their feet. and show the copper plates 10 the Iookers-on. Then the brides father brings a great number Of blankets, generally double the num- ber of those he had received from the groom. and gives them to his daughter The bride orders a few blankets to be spread before the groom. She sits down. and 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 a new blanket After the brides father has given a blanket to each dancer and to the drummer. the villagers are in viied to a great feast. At this time groom and bride eat for the first time Tr4rrer D ar -Ariawrsn