Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-10-07
Maria ges in Savage Lands.

Compared with the simple rites OF
less civilized people, our marriage cere-
mony seems trying ordeal for the
young and bashful couple to go
| through.
The Cherokee form of marriage is
perhaps the simplest and most express
| i've of any. The man and woman
merely Join hands over running
stream, emblematic of the wish that
their future lives, hopes and aspirations
| should flow in the same channel:
Between the mountains of India and
| Persia is powerful tribe, among whom
an extraordinary custom prevails.
ceived full recognition, for the ladies of
the tribe can choose their own hus-
| bands. All single lady has to do when
she wishes to change her state is to
send servant to pin a handkerchief to
| the hat of the man on whom her fancy
| lights, and he is obliged to marry her,
except he can show he is too poor to
purchase her at the price her father re-
quires.
The way the Singalese and Tartar
tribes have of popping the question is
about as singular as their marriage
rites. The man sends and purchases
the lady's wearing apparel. OF course,
| if she does not like the gentleman she
need not part with the contents of her
wardrobe; but if he is the favored one
she readily does so, knowing that when
the evening comes they will be re-
turned to her by the sutton in person.
| He spends the night beneath the same
roof with her and next day, after a GER
tain amount of feasting is gone through,
the couples thumbs are tied together,
and thencefoTward they are man and
wife.
In certain parts of Africa a custom
once prevailed land may still of the in
| tended bride bringing bowl or calabash
of water for the bridegroom to wash his
| hands in. If he condescended to do SO
| she there and then acknowledged him as
her lord and master, and moreover
drank the water as the proof of her
love and fidelity, and cases have been
know where cOpious shedding of tears
of Joy and thankfulness accompanied
the latter act.
Among some of the aboriginal races
of America the would-be bridegroom
sometimes experienced considerable
difficulty IN winning bride.
There was a matrimonial mound, on
which the priest stood. around which
the swain had to chase the fair one. If
he was not a favored sutton the lady
generally managed to make the circuit
three times before being overtaken, in
which case she was not compelled to
marry her pursuer. How amusing ii
would be in this country to see a fat
| old bachelor THAT is, if minus of riches)
| chasing nimble maiden round a hill
| lock.
But infinitely more trouble has a
youth of the Philippines ere be is al
lowed to take wife to his BOSOM Aft
to terms, the young gentleman has to
work for his intended father-in-law for
certain time, very often for four years
and sometimes longer. During this
time he must mind p's and as, for, il
he does anything wrong he is Instantly
discarded. Very fire quently unscrupu-
| lous faith ers make practice of dismiss
| ing their daughters young m Ell on the
merest pretense, thus enriching them
selves by his gratuitous labor.
A strange practice is that of betroth-
ing girl before she is born, condition
ally, of course. The Calmucs do So
But the girl is allowed an opportunity
on her bridal morning of winning her
her parents have chosen for her. The
marriage ceremony is performed by the
bride riding away at full speed, pursued
by the bridegroom, who must capture
her and bring her back; if he fail to do
SO he is deemed unworthy Of her hand.
Very rarely can Calmuc lady be over
taken unless she has a partiality for her
pursuer.
In some parts Of India an extraor-
binary marriage ceremony is performed.
The bridegroom, bride and priest drive
a cow and calf into the water, and then
all three lay hand on the cows tail
while the priest pours some water on it
from a brass vessel, by which act the
couple are joined forever in the bonds
Of matrimony. The priest claims the
COW and calf, together with all money
the happy pair may give to the idols to
propitiate them, as a recompense for
his trouble.
When young Savovard goes a-woo-
ing, he pays considerably more atten-
ton to the admired ones fire than her
face. If she leaves the billets Of wood
undisturbed on the hearth it is a sign
he is welcome; but should she place one
of the blazing faggots in an upright po-
sitlon against the others it is a hint for
him to take his departure London It'd
Bits.