Where the Women Propose.

Feilding Star, 15 June 1893, Page 4

Where the Women Propose.

In the Ukraine (Russia) the woman does all the courting, says the* Mailion.' When she falls in love with a man she goes to his house and informs him ot the state of her feeling. If he reciprocates all is well and the formal marriage is duly arranged. If, however, he is unwilling, she remains there, hoping- to coax him to a better mind. The poor fellow cannot treat her with the least discourtesy, nor has he the consolation of being able to turn her out, as her friends in snch a case would feel bound to avenge the insult. His remedy, therefore, if he is determined not to marry her, isto leave his home and stay away as long ns she is in it On the Isthmus «f Darien cither sex can do the courting with the natural result that almost every one gets irarried. A similar practice to that in the Ukraine exists among the Zuni tribe of Indians. The woman does all the courting, and also controls the situation after marriage. To her belong all the children, including inheritance, is also on her feide. The same custom prevails among the Vigrees, a tribe in Cabnl, nnd the Nairs, of Malabar. Among the Garo race of Abssam, in _North-< ast India, it is not only the privilege but even the duty of cbe girl there to speak first*

In a paragraph which appeared in the Australian Mining Standard recently it was ftated in a cabinet oi chpmical elements bequeathed by the late Prince Buumparte to die English nation, there is a substance called germanium, which is of the fabul<m« value of 60 timus its value in pure gold. Writing in reference to this statement, Mr P. M Kratse, curator of the Ballarat School of Mine*, says j the phrase " fabulous value " some- \ what magnifies the difference in the price of germanium as compared with gold. With gold at iour guineas an ounce, germanium is at present worth £194 per ounce. There is, however, a still rarer metal known to chemists, viz: gallium, the present market price of which is at the rate of £583 per ounce. Costly as are these technological products, they fall into insignificance when compared with the diamond, an ounce of flawless brilliant?, say one-carat pieces, being worth £5600.