New-York tribune., 1901-02-24

corn and sits during the -lirc evening on folded
skins blankets. generally Aenr the meal troushs
She wears her usual clothing. but sometimes She
places over il the stoe or white ceremonial blanket
with a blue and rcd border Little conversation Is
held with "a m0yi during this and the following
days Of the hetrothal
The noNt morning the white grinding is re-
sumed but on the third day blush black corn
T. used ON the evening Of this day the various
Pirl friends Of the n5N bring trays % cornrneal
TO the houec whore the latter stays on the fourth
morning these trays are filled with ears OF corn
and returned 20 ttr.r owners hy the mother-n-law
OF the brice. This d@y may Dee allied the wedding
day proper.
Long before devu the bride eud her mother-in-
law arise and th. mother of the bride arrives
about the same time. The bridegroom and the re-
nainder OF his family then get up. and soon
number of the female relatives ~ both families
,,e .!anv tno aurts h,Eln appear. each
bringing "a small quantity of water in a vessel At
the nreplaec iu jhe corner water Is beins boiled
in a large pot The two mothers prrpa... d. tWo
larSe bowls foaInlnr suas cf the pounded roots Of
yucca called by the HoIi moHu. To- which some
warm water is added When this is ready. thr
mothers knesl on the floor. placing the bowl Of
suos s tsi"ig s I,i .r, 'IP M ,, W" G M
law and The mdvi before the bowl boy the young
washed win the suds. OCCASIONALLY the patnrrrd
relatives assist in pouring a handful sIds over
Z the head Of each % aid b. the washing
Presently one after the other cf the women and
girls creep ia between 'he young couple. trying
10 hold th,ir heads over the bowls aud f,isn-
ing To dsHaCe the bride. Others try 20 away
the atruders and 90 take their places. the Wr8uE-
ling being accompanied rs great hiarity. When
the head washing Is about concluded all who have
| brought water with them pour II on the heads OF
the couple thus assisting n finsine the hair. After
thoroughly pressing the water from the hair, the
young man and maid sit near the fireplace To warm
and dry themselves Most OF the visitors then re
turn To their homes
When the bridal couple have dried their hair each
house and go silently the eastern side Of the
which the pueblo OF OFaibi T. situated
Standing close 10 the edge. they hold the meal to
their lips. breath silent prayer and trcn sprin-
| kle the meal toward the dawn. They then return
the house silently they departed. and
A number of the members of both families
semble and paTtake Of breakfast After this meal
the father of the young man takes some cotton
and. running through the village distributes IL
among the relatives and friends Of the family who
pick the seeds and then return H. Before the man
which ne and the bride take conspicuous part, and
which is attended with much joking and hilarity.
Friends come and go during the day. each one par
taking of the food kept ia readiness. the floor of
the house. as usual serving as a table
A few days later crier announces from the
the movt's bridal costume viii be spun In the
ktEas. and the friends OF the young couple par
ucipate In the spinning on the appointed day
the men work. and the Taspng OF the
caruing combs and buzzing or the primitive spin
dies are accompanied by the singing. joking and
the marriage has taken place many busy hands
have prepared dinner for the cotton spinners
The cotton that has been spun Is taken TO the
house OF the young man. and the manufacture OF
the bridal costume Is soon begun. The costume
- sts OF two square white blankets and a white