Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-06-21
PRIMITIVE COURTSHIP.
A Region Where the Proposal Is Made by
n Rifle Ball.

A Vienna letter to the New York Press
says: All through the mountains and
villages of what was once known as AL
bania. but which now is lost on the map
of Europe as a separate nation, the old
and primitive customs still exist, and the
maiden of to-day is wooed and won as
was her great grandmother in her youth.
Young girls throughout all this region
have more liberty than any other of the
Oriental nations, except the Montene-
grins, partly because they are upright by
nature and partly because of an unwrlt-
ten law that makes young girl sacred
in those half savage lands.
Every male member of the young girls
family through countless generations
would be bound to perpetual vendetta
against every man of every branch of the
family whoever would wrong any girl,
and. as the men of these two nations are
perfect marksmen and men of the fierc-
est courage. any man would think many
times before he would dare insult one of
these girls. Thus the girls 90 about on
the mountains with their little tlocks and
herds in security. and at sunset they all
go with their carthen pitchers to the vii
lage fountains or to the natural spring,
from whence they obtain the drinking
water for the night
The girls and women all stand about,
brown and barefooted. with bright eyes
and gavlv colored embroidered garments,
and with tinkling little pendants in their
hair and around their necks and wrists.
A tl,ni hnS
barbaric display is attractive. Homes are
simply shelters and places to sleep in,
and in even the well-to-do families little
attempt is made at decorating them, all
the family putting into dress and orna-
ment their surplus, and what they buy
goes down to grandchildren, as 1t Is al
ways of sterling though crude value.
Many girls have string of gold CONS
around the neck, which constitutes the
dowry. so that the suitor can see at a
glance her fortune.
These gatherings at the fountain, aside
from their useful purpose, serve for the
dissemination of news, and the matches
are also made there, for when young
man feels that he wants a particular
Young girl for his wife he first tells
several of his young men friends and
then takes his rifle and starts with them
toward the fountain, and tries to time
his arrival so that he will reach there
Just as this particular young woman has
lifted her cruise of water to her head and
started toward her home He then raises
his rifle and shoots directly at that cruise
and breaks it. letting all the water fall
on the girl, after which he steps forward
and takes her hand and they walk BASH
fully to her parents, who quickly under
stand the matter and bring out bread
and wine and dried fruits, which two
latter have been saved for the occasion of
their daughters betrothal.
Sometimes the parents object, but very
seldom, and the girl almost never. The
young man who would break cruise and
afterward refuse the young girls hand
would be instantly killed by the girls
relatives, and the relatives failing, other
men would do it as just and religious
vengeance The young men gather at
the fountains and chat and laugh freely
with all the girls, but never one word of
love making is allowed or said before the
open declaration by breaking the cruise
of water. After that the young couple
can wander unchecked among the flow
ers and trees until the wedding, which is
never very long delayed.