Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-06-15

Il. Sidney Hartlane, in the Asiatic
Quarterly:-Bride purchase is a custom
which has been, at some time or other,
practiced almost all over the world;
and where do we not lind it still III all
| its ancient force we frequently find
| the relics of it. As, in the progress
OF civilization, the power Of the father
over his children increases, that Of
the more distant kinSfolk decreases.
The substantial price in such cases
is paid to the parent, and the kinsmen
are recognized only by a smaller, fire.
quently nominal, present. Lastly,
the gift on both sides are transformed
into dOWIy for the bride, and into
eWdding presents intended for the be-
hoof Of the happy couple. In various
nations the application of the marriage
gifts is found in all stages OF transition
from the rudest bargain and sale up to
the settlements so dear to English law
yers, and the useless toys which the
resources of the newest culture enable
us to beStoW upon our friends on these
interesting occasions, to assist their
early efforts in housekeeping. The eX-
amples following are drawn, of course
from the conditions Of barbarism when
purchase prevails, or when survlyals
Of its former practice have not yet been
all swept away. incidentally we shall
find evidence, even outside the contri.
button on the one hand, and the pay
ment on the other, Of the wide extent
of kindred whose assent is necessary
in early stages of civilization.
Among the Osages youth is not
required to consult his parents in a
love affair; but the consent of his
elder brother, if he have one, or his
uncle, is the first condition Of proceed
ing in it. Having obtained this pre-
Iiminary approval the rest Of the family
are Informed Of his intention. He then
takes a number of horses and tie them
in front of the maiden's wigwam. This
is equivalent to formal proposal; and
the damsel's eldest brother, or uncle,
is the first to be Informed of it. If he
approve the match he accepts the
horses and distributes them among
the members Of the family. The OSa-
ges are still, or We're when the account
was written on which this statement
was founded, in the state OF society
where the husband enters the wife'S
! family and becomes its head. The
! OmahaS, another North American tribe,
have passed into the stage where the
wife goes to reside with her husband
and his family. A wooeE is not oblig-
10 o+h 1ar lac
parents, ubt often does; and after mar
rage there is custom now growing
obsolete for the husbands kindred TO
collect gifts which are sent by the wife S
hand TO her kindred, who are thereupOn
entertained by her father at a feast,
and the gifts distributed. A year or
SO later presents are sometimes made
in return. Among the HidatSaS a
w@oer has to show imself liberal in
his presents among the brides relations,
though the gift are generally returned
IN due course If he prove a kind huS-
band. In order to win a Seminole
maiden the sutton has to prove to hel
uncIes and her auntS that he Is a
good hunter This is done by supply
ing them with a quantity Of bears OF
land venison. 1t is they and the lady
brothers who have the diSpOsal-a1-
WAYS. however, with her Own content
of her hand; and the father has no
voice in the matter. Among the Peg
rueGhes and Patagonians the bridegroom
mrSt eatSfy the brides Kindred with
the offerings-Eot always an easy task
Turning to Africa, we find that the
iKroomen of Liberia buy and sell theii
women; and the price of girl is dis
!tributed between the relations of hel
father and those OF her mother. On the
opposite side of the continent, where
with Mohammelanisnl, a somewhat
higher degree OF civilization has been
reached, the payment for Sonar
IGnaiGen forms her marriage portion. i
is arranged, we are told in vague Ian
Iguage by her relations an expression
Including many besides the immediate
parents. No doubt in more primitive
times the persons who fixed the pay
!ment were the ones vino received 1t
THE customs Of various Turtanian PEG
pies peint similarly to the need OF
Iobtail1ing the consent CT the genera
groom Of the rahaEias Jf Rajmahai i:
:. required to present not only a turba1
and a rupee to his father-in-law and {
piece of cloth and rupee TO his mother
in-law, but also to several 81 the neares
relations. Striking are the ceremonie:
performed by two Of the northern
branches of this widespread race
After the puchae money has beer
agreed upon, but before it Is paid
among the kirghis the bridegroom L
allowed ii visit the bride. This is done
by some tribes with great Tormalty
The young man presents himself frs
50 the oldest members Of his brides fan
lily and asks permissionto pitch his ten
at the encampment. This reques
being granted he distributes present:
among the members of his family ant
: begs them to use theft efforts III per
, suading the bride to pay him a visi
to his tent. As success always crown:
, their efforts, the bride makes her ap
pearance in the tent, where the yOun:
coupIe are left alone. During thi:
interview the maria &c is cOnsummated
| though the union is not yet formal.
consecrated. They are now bound tt
5 each other. and neither can Withdraw
) from the mutual obligation they hav'
5 contracted without being exposed E
tie vengeance of the injured party"
/. Further presents are given to tn
2 relatives on the formal celebration O
: the marriage after the purchase none,