New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-02
BRIDECROOM'S FATE
HARD IN SIBERIA
Villagers, Armed with
Whips, Pursue Happy"
Adventures.

The native Koryak Of Kamchatka,
far up in the peninsula that is washed
by the Boring Sea, can sleep comfort
ably in a room four feet high with six
by eight feet floor space, and have a
fire smoking near all night, while the
doors are tightly closed, and then does
not object if three others share his
apartment with him. Tomorrow he
will have chance enough to breathe
more cold, fresh air than he cares for,
says THE Youths Companion" His
picture of the happy hereafter is a
snug, cosy place, where every cell Of
his body can perpetually enjoy warmth
and where neither ears, fingers nor
toes shall be frozen.
Once in his life, however, things get
a little hotter than he can honestly
enjoy; and that once he cannot escape
If he is to be a man Of Importance in
the community; for it Is his marriage
ceremony. As soon as the youth falls
in love in dead earnest he calls on the
maiden's father to find out what dowry
she can bring in case of eventual mar
riage. Since reindeer is the Koryak's
medium of exchange, the dowry usu-
ally consists of reindeer. If the father
consents TO the engagement, and the
dowry pleases the young man, the in
terviews the girl, and If she reclpro-
Gates his affection he enters her
fathers service. Chopping wood, tend
ing the herds, cutivating the garden
and all other kinds of farm work fall
to his share. The period of service
lasts from two TO three years.
The marriage ceremony begins about
six in the evening. There is building
in tho ,-iIlana int n uybicb tho u lilo
crowd at twilight. A large hall runs
through the centre of the building, on
either side of which are from ten to
fifteen little rooms, called pologs. Each
polog is separated from the next by
heavy reindeer curtains, and the en-
trance from each pOlog into the hall
is closed by similar curtains. Nowhere
in all that building except in the hall
could n good sized man stand upright.
After considerable eating and some
drinking, a bass drum begins to beat.
At the same time a solemn-faced Kor-
yak passes from one polog to another,
dropping willow sprouts and alder
branches in each Enclosure. Presently
the beater of the drum begins to sing,
to accompany his slow performance on
the drum. Gradually he accelerates
his beats and his song Faster and faster
he smtes his drum; louder and louder
he sings, until within thirty minutes he
has worked himself into a state of
frenZy-a contamination that is not
without its effect upon the villagers.
The stolid calm with which they en-
tered, suggestive of an impending
funeral, gives place to smiles, to toss
ings of the head, until by and by the
whole crowd are as excited as their
leader.
At this point, the front curtain of
each polog goes up, and two or three
women appear inside. In their hands
are the willow sprouts and .>alder
branches. In moment the father of
the bridegroom enters the building,
leading the happy couple by the hand.
The noise, the shouting and the whirl-
ing now become indescribable. At
signal from the groom's father, the
bride dashes into the first polog to the
right The. women that are within lift
the curtain for her, and she passes
quickly from one compartment to the
next.
Not so with the groom. He dashes
after her; but no sooner has he entered
the first polog than the women begin to
beat him with the willow sprouts and
alder branches. He seizes the curtain !
to enter the next polog, but one or two
hold it down; and if he finally
succeeds, there is a hot application Of !
branches on that part of his anatomy
that remains longest within the polog. |
Meanwhile, the women in the next |
polog are ready to receive him with |
equal warmth. They ply the switches
and do not hesitate to /
thrust out foot also, in order that /
the happy groom" may stumble, and |
afford a more enduring target for their
blows.
There is no escape from this expert |
ence until the groom has entered and |
passed through every one of those |
twenty or thirty pologs. The front cur
tains are raised, so that the public has |
a clear chance TO enjoy the spectacle.
OF course he never catches the bride. /
She has reached the last polog before /
he is half way through. II she passes .
out of the last polog he must work |
another year at her fathers house, and /
pass through the same ordeal once
more. But she usually awaits him in
The last polog, and when they meet
here the wedding ceremony is finished |
they are man and wife.