Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-01-01
ANTS AS MATCHMAKERS
SULU MAIDENS SECURE HUSBANDS
BY THEIR MEDIATION.

How the Strange Affair is Managed-Girls
of the Age of Fourteen Are Deemed
Marriageabe-A the Ceremony the
Ants Are Eaten.
Who ever heard OF ants in the role
Of matchmakcrs? Yet in the island OF
Su!u, one OF Uncle Sans recently ac-
quired possessions i'll the Philippine ar
chipelago, the maidcns cannot find hus
bands without their Intervention. A
gentleman who recently visited the
island has this to say OF the curious
state OF affairs:
"a most curious custom is to be
found in that island. 1t obtains only
among some OF the more savage tribes
OF the far interior, called the Kakl;o
hattochochka q won't swear to the
spellipg) tribe. These savagcs are
very primitive people indeed and very
savage in all their manners OF life.
There are not above 10000 Of this
tribe, and they live in the mountains
OF the interior. The way their young
women arc given in marriage is worth
going miles to see. l saw the ccrc-
mony last month, and I shall not soon
forget it.
"When young woman comes TO
the age OF fourteen she is deemed mar
riageable. A notice is given out by
the town cricr that on certain day
the young woman will be given in mar
riagc This day is within month OF
the fourteenth birthday OF the lady
concerned, and is chosen by her, ac-
cording to ancient custom. And the
choosing OF the day by the way, is all
the bride has to say about the mar
riage. The crier also. a few days
later, calls out the dowry OF the bride
and proclaims her charms aloud in the
market place. So all the population
is notified and a goody crowd OF ad
mirers gather to take their chance for
the fair lady. The near relatives Of
the bride and the contcstants-who
have previously given their names in
to the father OF the girl-and crowd
of perhaps 100 persons, if the young
woman is the daughter OF man Of
Importance, gather to see the show.
"On the morning OF the marriage
the bride is taken out by her maids
and crowned with lilies and clad in
white. Then with much drum beating
she is led forth and passes among the
suitors and kisses each in turn. Then
she is wrcathed with moro flowers and
is seated to watch the fun.
"Now, on that island OF Sulu they
have kind Of ant that puzzles the
scientists, for it has a double set OF
mandiblcs, one above and one below
the head, and both entirely indepcnd-
ent in action. These ants play lead
ing part in the marriage ceremony.
The night before the ceremony the vii
lage priest goes out by the light OF
the moon and opens an ant hill with
secret rites and carefully selects some
ants equal in number to the number
of suitors. These are kept with care.
After the bride has kissed all the
suitors in turn they go out to the hut
where the ants arc kept The priest is
there and lie takes an ant by the body
and allows it to fastcn the lower man
dible to the forcfnger OF the right
hand OF young man. These ants are
about an inch and half long and have
the most fcrocious bite you can i'm
agine. Then. each suitor with an ant
hanging to his forefnger, the young
men go back to the presence OF the
bride. Then there are long and clab-
crate rites, while the young men go
around and dance before the bride,
leach with monstrous ant hanging to
his finger. Then she is blindfolded
and the young men are lined up for the
selection.
"Thc drums arc beaten with renewed
vigor and tic bride goes along the line
OF the sutors and inserts her iorehnger
in the upper mandible OF the ants that
hang to the fingers Of the suitors,
each in turn. The first ant that closes
his pincer on the digit OF the fair lady
wins her for the man to whose finger
it is hanging. Then the chosen bride
groom strikes the ant to the ground
and crushcs it with his heel, and in
comes the priest and marries the
couple. Aitcrward the ants that have
been used in the ceremony are taken
out and cooked and 4 portion is given
to each guest to be eaten like the we'd
ding cake in civilized lands. Chicago
..ecord- Herald