Courting in Thibet.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 207, 5 September 1904, Page 2

Courting in Thibet.

When ia Thibetan warrior, surfeited with tJio glory of martial life, de siiros a. wife, he waits upon the father of the girl who has attracted his eyo and makes an offer of nmruiage. The father, after weighing the matter carelully—for a refusal is likely to provoke u long and bloody feudin turn waits upon the priests and acquaints them with tihe nature of the offer, at the same time paying to them a munificent bribe in order to secure the answer of the deities as to whether the marriage should be ejiterod into. The wife seeker, should ho be diplomatic enougih, has meantime carried a larger bribe to the lam a s, who "bless" both father and suitor to tho limit of safety, when the decision of the deities is given. For a month the accepted suitor must keep the family of his favohred one supplied with meat and other

luxuries, and must toe on hjs guard againsit rival suitons. At the end of the month thy chosen one is invited to a grand feast by the father of the girl, where the betrothal is sealed by each cutting a s'mall incision in tho arm mingling the blood flowing from tho wound. This function of blood 'brotherhood liavting been finished, the gurl is brought forward besmeared with grease and various coloured pigments, adorned in all her finery, and with a rope tied round her neck as a badgie of subservience. Then ensues scene of the shrewdest bargaining, the father dilating on the good points of the girl much in the manner of a connoisseur of blooded stock. The wishes oi the woman are never consulted, but tiie bargaining goes on for days, anid even weeks, until a final settlement Juia been arrived at. Tho re■cfuisite price having been paid, she is led to the house of her husband, whore she is subjected to a severe bcatirvg in order properly humble her spirit and made to run aromnd the Village loudly proclaiming the merits and \wiour of her husband.—W C. Jameson Reid, dn the '• lJooklavers."-