The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-26

osalment. will not come TO her lover I'M
I'll the presents which lac heaps upon the
other side outweigh the bounty OF the
parents. Feasting and dancing and ex
tolling the liheraiity of the husband-elect
follow this display OF his munihcence.
OF all the strange customs of marriage
among savage tribes. perhaps the most
peculiar are the trCe-top weddings of
the Negritos, or dwarfs. OF the Philip
pine islands. When one Of these pig
mics takes it into his head to marry. he
first gains the consent Of the father Of
hts intended. which Is quite easy 10 oh
tain, the girl herself never being con-
suited. Yet, IN practice, the ultimate de-
csion rests with her. after all. Before
daybreak next morning she VIII take to
the woods and hide. After dawn tho
lover starts out IN search of her. If she
doesn't fancy the sutton. she will take
good care not TO be discovered; but II she
likes him. he viii not have any great
trouble finding her.
At the wedding the groom viii climb a
tree and perch himself upon the end of
long limb. The bride will scramble up
another tree close by and out upon the
bough which extends nearest her lover.
Then the couple win bend the branches
eforward forming an arch over the heads
Of their friends and when their heads
touch they are pronounced man and wife
IN Angola, whore no metal or paper
money 20 speak of eirculates. and where
r>polygauy prevails. wives and children are
deemed the most desirable collateral for
investment. Each wife occupies a separ-
ate house. In return for which, and for her
clothing, both OF which are supplied by
her husband. she furnishes him with food
and tobacco which she cultsvates IN her
own field. The goods which are paid 10
the parents for the bride arc not rockonsd
as her price, but as a pledge. to be FOR
felted II the husband treats her badly
and TO be returned II she. fails 70 be a good.
true and faithful wife TO him
When you read Of the multitude OF wives
possessed by some African potentate II
means that they are wives for revenue
only, not bearing any connublsI relation
20 Their lord. When the chief needs
money he sells one OF these maidens 70
somsbody who has, the money 10 pay for
the high honor Of marrying one OF the
kings wives. Should the purchaser tire
Of his bargain, he may In turn sell the
woman. but 81 she IS now merely Sec
Qnd-hand wife, She VIII not bring mora
than half price
Thsre IS no use for an Abyssinlan damsei
20 no about her age. Her hair would
befrsy the falsehood Her kinkv trezseS
are tied up into plants. each one Of which
represents a year Of her life. over these
H0tGn
under a broIling tropical sun. speedily
mslts and becomes rancid The odor
which results is only partially neutrallzeS
by other strOng-sneiilng stun with which
she annoints her head About her tenth
year she viii ind a husband. potwitH
standing these doubtful additions 10 her
charms. which are not overpowerfng "a
begin with.
AbyHsinian lovers may choose be.uae,
two forms OF mafriaga, the religious ara
The civil Once the former IL entered into
there IL no backing out so very fevv ~
the most serious minded ever select this
ceremony. The great majority, a.,,u
themselves o. the ciyfi marriage vvhgcb
may De dissolved az pleasure T,t,r4,,-
these less binding rites The br}an a.
wrapped up in a white sheet ard MA
upon stool The groom is asl<ad - -
wishes 70 marry her. He win. ~ eo,rsa
respond that he does. ara than ~
couple viii crook their angerz tor..ser
under the sheet This ties the eenn,sb,,t
knot, which the priest proceeds "a roIfsS
on with snort sermon OF faekeyls -
attended 70. @'~
Thers Is ~ lack % hospitality at the
wedeinA Bread meat. beer ara eeTsa
n baxkets trimmed with Trrrksv RI
"ni~7 ~ the bridal color Of the country
are distributed anoaz all. 10 svGrg
enaIee pa&aer by, as well as 10 tbe
regularly Invited guests When one taeIa
ta1 q hanaaetsrs have eaf.n what II
e9nse7ersd their proper share the h0st
W. not heeft-tfs TO turn them our Nv
40ES*s II necessary, 20 make room FOR a.
cthsr iIsssllmsut % hungry guests
Al 4@a4o aid axno1g TIE negroea~-os