AN AMERICAN INDIAN WEDDING.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 303, 30 December 1870, Page 2

AN AMERICAN INDIAN WEDDING.

A New York paper describes a wedding, which recently took place in the neighbourhood of New York, of two members ot the Iroquois tribe of [ndians. After dinner, which commenced at two p.m., the ceremony took place, and a brave of the Iroquois tribe named Blow was united to a bright-looking but dusky bride, with the sweetly simple name of Serik Kasilsaavowkwas, which means " _ aid with the Merry Eyes," nnd she was very appropriately called, as her pair of orbs beamed-like beads, and her smiling lips displayed a set of very white teeth. The nuptial knot wa< to be tied by Chief Ancient Tangie, but owing to his absence the ceicmony was performed by F. Thiozbow, Prince of the Iroquois, and son of King Anishentuane or White Cloud. Their matrimonial proceedings were opened by tho courting dance, which was performed in the following manner:— Three warriors of the tribe, headed by a chief, beating a drum, named Karcnishcn, sat in a row on their haune-hes, while the intending bride and bridegroom remained in a tent, Thoy chanted a sort of melancholy ditty, the burden of which is to the effect that if the pair have really serious intentions Lhey hud better nuke known their engagement and enler the state of wedlock. As.°soon aa the song ceased, the bridegroom issued from the tent, bowed and danced once round the warriors. The bride then appeared on the scene, and ns the young lady had evidently determined to tako a chance in the matrimonial lottery, she showed her preference for the objeet'of her affection, hy tapping him on the shoulder and presenting him with a marriage present, in the shape of a headband of elegant beadwoik. This he took in triumph and showed as a plenge of love to his companions, who pretended to be jealous, and feigned to snatch it away. The three warriors, after he kissed her, arose, and all the contracting parties entered the tent, when the marriage settlements were made, and the young people admonished not to enter into an alliance if not intertaining a mutual affection. Tho three warriors who were the witnesses then came out of the tent, and spread a blanket, around which the whole tribe walked, singing again the courting song. The young people then came out of the "tent, and sat back to back on the blanket, and nudged each other with their elbows in a sort of accompaniment to the rude chant of the tribe, who danced and capered around them in a ridiculously solemn manner, occasionally grinning through their red paint like playful pok-cats. The happy pair seemed to bo a little shy, and felt relieved when this courting business was ended. After qbe song and dance was finished they repaired again to the tent to prepare for the wedding, and then a ceremony of a secret nature was performed iv the presence of the three warriors. When all was ready, the head chief opened the door of the tent, and, in a solemn manner, headed the procession to the blanket, which served as an altar. The tribe then walked around again, and sang a marriage song, signifying that both swere glad to get married, as now oue lv.d omebody to care for him, aud the other was sure of being supported. The bridegroom appeared, followed by the bride, on the ending of the song, and both standing side by side, faced the tribe. The prince of the Iroquois tribe then stepped before them, and in a formula much resembling that of the whites, asked the bridegroom if he took the woman to be his wedded wife. The prince then put a similar question to the bride, and both gave the affirmative answer, " Hon hon." He had ordered him to join hands, and during the questioning waved his tomahawk over their clasped hands. When the bride said " Hon hon," he separated them ' with the tomahawk, and the tribe then took another walk around, after which the prince called the the bridegroom, and ordered him to kiss the bride. This completed the ceremony, and newly married pair then walked round the tribe, and entered the tent.

People tell me that there are no children I now-a-days, and shake their heads ruefully as they assure me that miniaturo men and! women have replaced the joys, innocent children of bygone epochs. Have they? Thenfor my part, lam glad of it. A real, unmitigated, uncivilised child is a nuisance not to be passively endured. It is a brat. It daubs its face and clothes, smashes tbe windows, tears lace curtaius, mounts on silken damask furniture with muddy boots, tortures cats, tenzes pigeons, and is a compound of noise, dirt, and bad behaviour generally. Enter the miniature lady and gentleman, whose existence fills the conservative breast with horror. They are prettily and carefully dressed. They extend kid-gloved hands, and say sweetly, " Good morning " They speak when they are spoken to, and have sometimes to say beyond '• Lemme be !" and " I dunno ! ' If you give a children's ball, the child of (he period (aged eight) will grace it. She w.ll come elegantly dressed, and well mannered. She will dance with all possible science and -avoir faire, will flirt a very little and very discreetly, and will partake modestly of the ladylike sufficiency of supper. Her brother (aged 10) is an accomplished cavalier. He engages Ids dancing partners early in the evening, escort' tlie chosen of his heart to the supper room, waits on her with assiduity, beslows on ber all the bou-bons and flowers lie receives, and refuses to be tempted even by biscuit, glace, or crystallised fruits till all ber wants are well supplied. The innocent, unsophislicated child would bolt into the room, pull down the pyramids of bon-bons, and the bouquets of flowers, throw ice cream into his neighbour's face, and end by gorging himself to repletion and by spilling all spillable and sticky viands over ills clothes. And I must say that I have seen far more real enjoyment among the daintily-dressed and well-mannered couples who bounded through tho gallop and flew through the mazes of the quadrille, than 1 ever witnessed among a whooping, yelling crowd of those dreadful little savages, natural, unrestrained children. Children are naturally imitative, and it is ns easy to persuade them to consider themselves refined, rational beings—ladies and gentlemen, in short —as it is to work them up to that pitch of excrement and unrestraint when they cease to be small specimens of humanity, and become horrid little pigs. — Treasury of Literature. A farewell soiree, in connection with the departure of the Rev. W. J. Dean from Auckland to Wellington, will take place on Tuesday evening next, at the Edwardes-streot Schoolroom.