Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-09-13
THE siLouLA MARRIAGE KNOT.
The strange Courtship anil Queer Weddings
of a Northera Tribe.


Mr.. Phi. Jacobsen, in letter TO his
well known brother, Capt. A. jacobsen,
gives the following description of the
marriage ceremonies of the Bilqula In
dams Of British Columbia An Indian
who intends to marry calls upon his in
tended wife's parents and arranges with
them how much he is to pay for permits
sion TO marry the girl. Among people
of high descent this Is done by messen-
gers. sometimes as many as twenty being
sent to call on the girls father They
are sent by the mans parents before the
Young man is Of age. In many instances
both man and girl are not more than 8
or Q years old. The messengers go IN
their boats TO the girls house. and carry
ON their negotiations without going
ashore. where the relatives OF tho girl
are standing.
Tho messengers OF the young mans
parents praise his excellence and noble
descent. the great exploits of his father
grandfather and ancestors; their wars
victories and hunting expeditions their
lifcraiity at festivals, etc Then the
girls relatives praise the girl and her
carried Ola Finally. number of blan-
kets are thrown ashore by the messen-
gers; ard the girls relatives protest, and
maintain that the number t. not suiii.
cient 10 pay for the permission to marry
the girl In order To obtain their con
SAINT, new blankets are thrown ashore
one by one. the messengers continually
maintaining that the price paid iS too
great Generally from twenty TO tlfty
blankets. each Of the value OF about ifty
cents. are paid
sidered engaged. When they come to
be grown up the young man has To serve
a year 10 his father in-law. He must fell
trees fetch water. fish and hunt for the
latter, During this time he is called
kos. which means zone who woos.
After year has elapsed the marriage is
celebrated At this time great festivals
are celebrated. Seven or eight men per
form dance They wear dancing apronH
aud lodgings trimmed with putin heaks.
hoots Of deers. copper plates and bells
II the grooIn should be wealthy man,
who has presented to his wife many
small copper plates, such rs are used as
presents to bride. these are carried by
the dancers. The singing master, who
beats the drum. starts song. In which
the dancers join. The song used at the
marriage festival Is sung In unison
while iH all other dasces each dancer
has his own tune and song The first
dancer wears ring made Of cedar bark
His hair Is strewn with eagle down
which dies about when he moves and
forms cloud around his head.
The groom presents the first dancer
with piece Of calico. which the latter
tears Ia pieces. which he throws down
in front Of each house of tho village,
crying "Iiolpi" in order TO drive away
evi! spirits These pieces of calico which
he throws down la front Of the houses
have "a lucky meaning aud AZ the same
time express the idea that tho groom.
when he COMES Ia toe "A wealthy man, will
not forget the Inhabitants Of any house
when giving festival Tie dancers
swing their bodies and arms stamp
their feet and show the copper plates to
the lockers on
Then the brides father brings great
nutnlser OF blankets. generally double the
number OF those he had received from
ihe groom. and gives them 20 his daugh.
Ter. The bride orders few blankets to
bc spread before the groom She sits
down. aud he puts his hand upon her
head. Then tho groom Is given for each
Of the parts OF his body one or more
blankets Finally he 10 given a 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 eat Tor the first time together,
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