A Marriage Mart in the Carpathians.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 160, 10 July 1886, Page 4

A Marriage Mart in the Carpathians.

A remarkable custom exists among the Roumanians living in the weßtorly Carpathians. Every year, at the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, a market is held on the crest of the Gaina, from 5,000 to 6,000 feet above the level of the sea, and here all the marriageable girls of the entire district assemble with their parents in order to be viewed and claimed. fMothers, aunts, grandmothers, and various female friends contribute to the dowry, and this completed it is carried to market on the Gaina in neatly made trunks, decorated with flowers, and carried by the family's best horses. Cattle, bees, and other household requisites are also added to the dowry. On the Gaina every family which has a marriageable daughter occupies a distinct tent, in i which the dowry is exhibited, and in which the bride-viawerß are expected. The bachelors, too, are accompanied by parents or relatives, in whose company they inspect the girls who are eligible. The young men bring the best they possess, and each must particularly come with a girdle of gold or silver. After the bridesare chosen the public betrothal takes place, being conducted by a hermit who lives in this lonely spot. The mark of betrothal is not a ring, but a beautifully embroidered handkerchief. The betrothal is in many cases pre-arranged ; but the ceremony must be gone through all the same. If the girl goea to the market knowing beforehand that an admirer will be there to claim her, so muoh the better for her. Still ihe must take her dowry and occupy her tent and place herself on view like the rest.

The proposal which haa been made for the establishment of a German Colonial Bank has been taken up with (spirit, and good progress is being made with the preliminaries. The University of Cambridge will.on the Jm *nst., confer the degree of Doctor of ;£**!£ on Sir A "drew Clarke,Sir Geo. Bowen, Sir Robt. G. W. Herbert, and Sir Samuel Davenport.