The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-11-16
Welded BY EATING.
ODD MARRIAGE CEREMONY OF THE
NAVAJO INDIANS.

'HNToo llNDlFNiNS.
Pudding Instead of n Ring Used to
Join tac Happy Couple, Who Fat
with Thcir Fingers From the Same
Dish, Cooked by the Medicine Nun.
This quaint story of wedding among
the Navajo Indians is related by n white
man now working, as Il missionary with
this tribe. The Navajo reservation takes
in large strip of country in New Mexico
and Arizona. and the Indians number
nearly 20,OO0. The missionary writes as
follows:
~ short time ago we were invited to
be in attendance at n marriage ceremony
of one Of the Navajo braves TO one of
the rairCSt daughters of the reservation.
This ceremony was 10 he performed in
the true Indian custom about four miles
from Fort Defiance ut about I o'clock in
the evening. We arrived at the desig-
mated hut at the appointed time, and q
tree WAS pointed out to us where we could
tie our horses. \ considerable number
of Indians were already there. The gov
crnmrnt agent at Fort Defiance and the
blacksmith were also invited, and they
entered the hut Il short time after we had
arrived.
The SquawS were all husily engaged in
baking bread. frying meat and boiling
coffee, for ali Navajo ceremonies must be
preceded by Il suilptuous feast. \ good
meal must he eaten before the medicine
man can administer his holy medicine
We have often wished that we might
have phonograph here in order that we
might keep record of the clear and res
onant voices Of the Navajocs When they
have once started to sing with all their
might and main SO that the beads of per-
SEPARATION trickle down their checks, they
offer sight that would put any stranger
n.the run. Their bowling far SURPRISES
than of pack of wolves.
Fifty braves had gathered on this oc-
caSion and two chiefs who put on a great
many airs. The cause of the feeling of
superiority with these chiefs is that the
government has appointed them as judges
To settle all disputes and trivial differ
enccs that may arise among the members
of the tribe. On account of this they
have the opinion that they possess a
great deal of wisdom and must he re-
spcCtcd accordingly. One can readily inn
aginc that these chiefs are the worst ras-
Gals among the Indians, except possibly
the medicine men.
''Somc of the braves became impatient
when they were compelled to wait short
time for the supper and went outside to
roast Il sheep at their own expense over
campfire. But we were all soon seated
about the table in the hut and enjoying
our supper immensely. After We had
partakcn of the meal Il large earthen dish
was brought forth. and the medicine
u.hn fhnn acted in tho aonnnitv Of
priest, began the making of pudding
We asccrtaincd from the Indians at our
side that this was to he the wedding cake
While seated in the hut the approach of
many horses could he heard. These, we
learned, were from the bridegroom as
pay to his father-in-law for his prospec-
tive bride.
'Aftcr the pudding was well done, 1t
was placed III Il basket made for that
special purpose, and the medicine man.
carrying Il jug of water and the basket
headed the procession of the bride and
her friends to a Ispw hut, where the
bridegroom stood i'll waiting for his fu-
turc WIFE, We followed the procession
and entered the hut, where we were Civ
en- reserved ccHts Mt the side of the medi-
cine man. He commanded the bride and
groom to be seated next each other.
Then, taking the jug, he poured water on
the hands OF the bride and commanded
her to wash both hands of her future
husband. Thprcupun the bridegroom
was commanded to do likewise to the
hands of his bride. This ceremony I'M
pressed us Il great deal. for it shows the
true mutual submission both husband
and wife must be willing to undergo.
"After the hands of both had been
washed the wedding cake, or, rather,
pudding. was placed before the bridal
pair, and after it had been covered with
holy powder the exact places where they
must eat from it with their fingers was
naintcd out to them. Following the COM
mand, the young man put his right hand
into the pudding and began eating. the
bride followed his example and hogan to
eat of the pudding where the impression
of her future husbands fingers were still
to be seen.
after the bridal pair had made the
circuit of the entire dish, eating as they
went, the medicine man declared the GER
cmony complete with the simple word
'kaddih,' and the couple stood before the
assembly as man and wife. 1t did APP
pear to us ms really odd TO see couple
united with the simple ceremony Of cat
ing. We wondered why this ceremony
was not accompanied by song and ask
cd if that was the end of it. whereupon
we received the simple affirmative Of
'ow'
BREAD and coffee were then brought to
the party, and all began to cat for the
second time, to the honor of the bridal
pair. We also partook of the bread.
which really tasted good. but passed the
wedding pudding which was now given
to the party. Tho pudding looked tempt
ing and must have tasted good. judging
from the manner in which the Indian
guests reached for it.
''rhis marriage ceremony is not infre-
qucnt among the Indians. for they believe
in plural marriages. and some have a
number of wives. Very few white people
have witnessed the cci cmony, however,
and possibly few would care to see it the
second time. Divorces are also just as
frequent among the Indians. This is an
evil against which We have to contend.
Grand Rapids Press.