Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Of the Laplanders Contrails and Marriages. r I r
that are to be; or elfe, Soulowiin (that is the Wine oS wooers which tis
expedient Sor wooers to beflow, thereby to procure permission of converSe
with the daughter, and gain the favour and liking of the future Bride. But
wemufttake notice, that the bulineSs is not propofed to the maid her SelS
first, but herparents; nor may the Suiter have any conference with her
without their permiSTiOn. Nay’tis the uSual cuftom, at this time to
dif-patch her away upon fome Sleevlefs arrand, either to the Rain-deers
pastures in the Wood?, or a Neighbors hut, fo as neither the Suiter nor any
of his company may have a fight of her; but if at last either She or fome orher
woman procure leave for Her of her Parents or kindred, to fpeak to him,
their entertainment finished he gets him out of the hut to his fledg,
and then takes out his woollen Cloth-Garments, ( Such as they uSe to Spruce
themSelves up withal, at their public Festivals, or more Solemn affairs ) and
what elSe is requifite to the preSent bufineSs: when he has trimm’d himSclf
up, he makes hisaddrefs to his MiftreSs and falutesher; Their manner of
Salutation is by a kifs ; in which that they mainly aim at is, that each not
only apply his mouth to the others, but alfo that both their nofes touch;
for otherwife itgoes not for a true falute. Nexthe makes her a prefent of
the rarest delicacies that Lapland affords, the Rain-deers tongue, the
Beavers flelh,’ andotherdainties, which She refufesto accept of in
thepre-fence of any body ; prefently after the is call’d afide to fome convenient
place without the hut, then if lhe profefs her felf willing to receive them,
the Suiter farther puts it to her, whether She will grant him leave, that he
may take his repofe by her in the hut; if She grant it, ’tis concluded
between them of theirfuture marriage: withal he prefents his gifts above
mentioned. If She rejefts hisfuit, lhe caffs them all down at his feet. The
Bridegroom ufually carries them in his bofom, before heprefents them. The full
approbation of the Parents, and the celebration of the wedding is ufed
oftentimes to be deferr’d for a confiderable while, Sometimes for two or
three years together; and all that while they bestow upon courting their
MistreSTLs. The reafon why’their time of CounShip or wooing proves fo
long, is becaufe the Bridegroom is neceSTitated togratifie with frequent
prefents, the parents and friends nearest in blood to the Bride, without the
leave of each of which he cannot compafs the pofftlTicn of her.This is
expref-fed by Samuel Rheen in theft words, When any Perfon pretends marriage
to the Daughter of one cf the richer fort, he is obliged to make a prefent
to her parents and nearest Kinfmen, Such as is made for state to AmbaSIa-,
dors or cheif Officers, as large as his means will reach to, which prefent
they call Feck, that is, Peices; every peice at least muff contain two marks
offilver, that is, fix ounces, there are fome too, that must corftain twenty,
forty, fometimes threescore ounces a peice, Such peices the Bridegroom
is bound to bestow upon His MiftreSTesparentsand her near kindred. In
what things theSe preSents particularly confift, iSbotl mention hereafter,
for they do not give barely filver, but moulded into tome fafhion, or other
things befidts; while therefore the Bridegroom isemploied in procuring
thefe pieces, ’tis no inconsiderable while that paSfes.
In this interval he ever and anon makes a vilit tahis MiSVrefr, to whom
while he is travelling he Solaces himfelf with a Love Song, and diverts the
wearifomnefs of his journy. .And ’tis their common cuflom, to ufe Such
Ee 2 kind
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
