Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-03-24
WIVES SOLD CHEAP.
LOVELY MAIDS OF NEW GUINEA
BOUGHT FOR AN Ak APIECE.

BOUGHT FOR AN Ak APIECE.
Among the Papuans-How q Brave
Native Lover Earned Spouse
Pressing Invitation to Marry.
Such opportunities for matrimony as
were offered me in New Guinea few
years ago never expect TO enjoy again.
Ny journey through the island Of the
Papuans was made for the purpose of
collecting specimens of all sorts, such as
a naturalist seeks to gather, but the
people themselves are the most interest
ing savages have ever met. The men
and children go about entirely naked,
while the women wear only short grass
petticoats. | employed young black
fellow named Raboor to help me in my
work. His hair was a bush of kinky
fuzz and stood up on his head in mass
as big as a half bushel measure. /
found out that he was in love. but he
admitted with a sigh that he was too
poor to marry the girl Of his choice.
"You are young and strong" said l.
"Why do you not go to work and earn
enough to support yourself and your
sweetheart"
"You do not understand" he replied.
81 have a good garden that would sup
ply what food we wanted; besides, can
throw the spear further and truer to the
mark than any other man in this dis
trict, so that l can get plenty of kan
garoes and pigs. But they will not buy
the girl. Her mother wants an ak for
her, and that cannot grow in my gar
den or hunt in the forest with my
spear"
The poor fellow groaned, made several
despairing remarks on his prospective
mother-in-law, and finally said that if
he did not love the young woman SO
dearly he would go away and never
come back again.
HELPING A NATIVE TO MARRY.
But, my boy, you need not despair, :"
said l. If the possession of an ak will
secure your happiness will give you
one. l want my paradise bird, for in
my country people think more of them
than of axes. If you will help me get
as many birds with the long plumes as
you have fingers on both hands you
shall have an ak on the day we get the
last one"
He accepted this proposition delight
edly. At length, with his assistance,
the ten good birds were procured and
the ak earned. l was present when
Raboor bought his wife with it. They
were married the following evening, the
ceremony being concluded with wild
dance and singing by chorus of girls.
As we were preparing our dinner one
afternoon a litter and giggle were
waited to our ears. Looking around we
beheld Lohier in the midst of group of
fifteen or twenty girls, many of them of
superior beauty, who were laughing and
peering at us over each others shoulders.
They all wore flowers in their hair and
bands of green leaves adorned their
arms and ankles. Each maiden had on
her best striped petticoat and some wore
necklaces of dogs teeth.
At length Lohier, one of my recent
guides, stepping forward, said that he
had been a long way, had visited the
biggest towns of his country and had
brought back with him the most beau
tiful women of his nation. He hoped
we would each select one that would
please us, marry her and settle down in
New Guinea. The parents of some of
the girls had come also and were stand
ing in the background. Our friend ex-
planned to us that the prices were high,
as they were the finest girls in the land.
LINING UP FOR PROPOSALS.
He arranged them all in giggling
line, that they might be seen to the best
advantage. Beginning with the first,
he told their names and gave their differ
ent accomplishments.
noticed beautiful girl whom had
met while out shooting among the num-
Der of maidens, and was anxious to
hear what Lohier would say of her. She
still wore the string of beads had given
her, and looked as pretty and modest as
violet. When he came to her he said:
This is Lucena. Is she not lovely?
Her arms are round as bamboo; her
form is supple as the climbing vine; her
skin is smooth as young banana leaf;
her hair is soft as spiders webs; her
eyes are bright as dew in the morning.
She can sing like bird and run fast as
a kangaroo; she is a good housekeeper,
an sffectionate daughter and comes
from a good family. for her father is
great warrior"
The value set upon the beauty was an
Ak, knife, piece Of calico and a string
of beads. We stood admiring her. and
Lohier thought he had made bargain.
We realized that the affair might turn
out seriously, perhaps, but we turned
the matter off by declaring that we were
unable to make choice among SO many
lovely creatures and proceeding to dis
tribute presents literally. To most of
the girls we gave gay colored handker-
chiefs, with brass ring and brass
button in each. To Lucena we offered
a looking glass, and the young women
danced for our amusement while we ate
our dinner, and sang song, which they
composed as they went along, describ-
ing the whole scene and complimenting
Us upon our generosity. Toward even
ing they bade us goodby and started for
their homes.-Fish Commissioner Sher-
man F. Denton in Washington Star.
Danger In Reaching Land.