The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29
HIGH PRICED BRIDES.
1t Costs n Fortune to Marry ChicIzn-
saw Sguayys,

The man-buck or paleface-who wants
TO marry squaw of the Chickasaws viii
have to pay $1,000 for the license-so or
ders the council of the tribe. The price
seems high to people in Washington but
! it is all right. once the facts are known.
For long time there has been Disgrace
full traffic in brides among the Chickasaws.
Eiowas, Ccmanches, Apaehes, and CTeS.s
OF the Territory. Beautiful young squa-Ts
have been placed upon the auction block
and knocked down TO the highest bidder.
Oftentimes they thus become the unwill-
ing brides OF worthless husbands. The
barbarOus custom has drawn many white
adventurers, attracted merely by pecu-
MARY gain, for many of the squaws have
a headlight worth s., 900 or more. The
consideration for a bride is usually ponies
valued at about $40 each. AT a sale last
January a pretty member of the Usage
tribe was sold for 2S3 ponies or $3.50.
The white men usually make arrange
ments with the father of the girl to pay
a trivial sum down and to pay the Ie-
mander OF the price for the bride in labor.
The new high marriage license act does
not prohibit the mixing Of the races, but
the white man. in order to secure tribal
citizenship must pay $1,000 for the privi-
lege. In all other respects the ChickasaTs
women are happily married to white men
who wooed them for themselves alone.
Quanah Parker. chief of the Comanches,
is pronounced polygamist, he being
credited with no less than eight wives
purchased at the auction mart. Ten years
ago the young warrior became smitten
with the charms Of Too-nOcey, an unusually
attractive and well-educated maiden. The
father strongly favored Parker's suit. The
-f-1.. cd he
commanded, however. to encourage the
young warriors advances. There was brisk
competition at the sale, at which Too
nocey's father officiated as auctioneer.
Chief Few Tails was Parker's closest |
rival. His first bid when the auctioneer
cried How much arr l bid for the pretty
sQuaw?" was fifty ponies Parker raised
him fifty more. Few Tails promptly fol-
lowed with the offer of $50. Then they |
began to raise each other by small num- |
bers. until Parker finally squelched his |
rival by bidding SEQ ponies, which WIS I
more than he possessed and quite out of /
Few Tails reach. Parker satisfied the girls |
father that he would make good the deficit,
and Too-nocey became his first bride He |
worked long and faithfully to pay for his |
wife, and was soon made chief of his tribe. |
since when he has been industriously add |
ing to his harem.
Int OsdSeS 10 NOT let d pIlde ~ Ch d
'stand-of.'' The consideration must be |
forthcoming at once. The weddings of this |
tribe are gay affairs. number OF bucks |
race for the brides pony, and maiden |
sguaws compete in the same way for Der
robe During the festivities, the bride,
deliberately goEned in a white robe of
buckskin, covered with silk, and adorned
with many oTnamentations, including
costly diamonds, energies from her wig
wan. During the race for her pony the
brides mother diyests her OF her beau
tiful wedding garments, leaving her clad
only in a nightrobe Then the bridegroom
runs from his wigwam throws his blanket
around her, and carries her of to his
happy home. No word is spoken through
out the ceremony. After the wedding the
guests assemble in another part OF the
town and feast on boiled dog, fried dog,
canned dog and dog soup.