Page:Dawson - Australian aborigines (1900).djvu/47

Rh age, she is sent away from her tribe, and placed under the care of the young man's mother, or his nearest female relative, who keeps her until they are married, but not in the same wuurn with her intended husband. She is constantly attended by one of his female relatives, but is not permitted to speak their tribal language. She is expected, however, to learn it sufficiently to understand it. A day is fixed for the marriage, and invitations are sent to the relatives and friends of both parties.

As such ceremonies are always accompanied with feasting and amusements, great preparations are made, and all kinds of food collected, such, for example, as emus' and swans' eggs, opossums, kangaroos, and wild fowl. An emu which is killed while hatching is considered a great treat, as then both bird and eggs can be eaten; and if the eggs have young ones in them so much the greater will be the delicacy. These things are cooked at a considerable distance from the camp, and brought to it at mid-day by the friends of the bridegroom. At this stage of the proceedings they are partaken of only by the friends of the bride. At sunset, the friends and relations of the bridegroom and bride, numbering possibly two hundred, sit on opposite sides, within a large circle formed of the leafy boughs of trees, with a fire in the centre. The bride is introduced by her bridemaid [sic], and seated in front of her friends. The bridal attire is very simple. Her hair is braided, and bound with a plaited bark brow band, coloured red. In front of the brow band is stuck a bunch of red feathers, from the neck of the long-billed cockatoo. White streaks are painted over and under her eyes, with red lines below. The usual kilt of emu feathers is worn round the loins, and she is covered from the shoulders downwards with an opossum rug.

The bridegroom also is painted with a white streak over and under the eyes, and red lines beneath them. He wears a brow band the same as that of the bride, but it is ornamented in front with a white feather from a swan's wing, the web of which is torn down, so as to flutter in the wind. He wears the usual apron, and a rug of the ring-tail opossum, thrown over the shoulders like a mantle. This is fastened in front with a bone pin, and reaches to the knees. He is attended by two or three young bachelors, who are painted and ornamented for the occasion. They lead him from the wuurn of a friend to his bride, who receives him with downcast eyes and in silence. He then declares that he accepts the woman for his wife. Feasting then begins. When everyone is satisfied, a chief calls out, "Let us have a dance before the children go to bed." The karweann is then commenced, and kept up till midnight.