COURTSHIP AMONG THE CHOCTAWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9429, 11 July 1882, Page 3

COURTSHIP AMONG THE CHOCTAWS.

There are still 2000 Choctaws living in their ancestral homes in Mississippi, and on the authority of Mr H. S, Halbert, they retain in all their pristine vigor moat of the usages of their ancestors. Among these the methods employed in conducting a courtship and performing a marriage are curious. When a young Chocktaw of Kemper or Neshoba county sees a maiden who pleases his fancy he watches his opportunity until he finds her alone. He then advances within a short distance and gently lets fail a pebble at her feet ; be may have to do this two or three times times before he attracts the maiden’s attention, when, if this pebble throwing is agreeable, she soon makes it manifest. If otherwise a scornful look and a decided “ ekwah ” indicate that his suit is in vain. Sometimes, instead of throwing pebbles, the suitor enters the maiden’s cabin, and lays bis hat upon her bed. If the man’s suit be acceptable the hat is permitted to remain, but if she be unwilling to be his bride, it is instantly removed. Whichever method be employed, the rejected suitor knows that it is useless to press his suit, and beats as graceful a retreat as possible. When a marriage is agreed upon, the time and place are fixed for the ceremony. The relatives and friends of the bride and bridegroom meet at their respective homes, and thence march to the marriage ground, halting a short distance from one another. The brothers of the bride go across to the opposite party, and bring forward the bridegroom, who is seated upon a blanket spread upon the ground. The sisters of the bridegroom then do likewise by going over and bringing forward the bride. She is expected to break loose and run, but, of course, is pursued captured, and brought back to be • seated by the side of the bridegroom. All the parties now cluster round the couple, the woman’s relatives bring for ward a bag of bread, a lingering symbol of tho time when the woman had to raise the corn, the man’s relatives a bag of meat, in memory of the days when the man should have provided the household with game. Next presents of various kinds are showered on the couple, who all this time sit still, not even uttering a word. When the last present has been given they

arise, now man and wife, and, just as in civilised life, provisions are spread and the ceremony is rounded off with a feast.