Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/357

 Collectanea. 321

The young man makes another journey for the purpose of bringing a small present, most probably of tobacco, to the father of his intended bride, and then says, " Next month I shall come on the morning of such and such a day to claim my bride. I give notice, be ready ! " Should the man belong to the order of young men known as Rhaba, the wedding can only take place at night, but should he belong to the Arri or advanced order, the wedding is celebrated during the forenoon. When the day has arrived, the suitor brings the cattle which he has agreed to give as the price of his wife, and is accompanied by his father, mother, and younger sister, as well as a male friend. He leads the cattle to the door of the bride's father, and the friends with him call to him to come out and see his cattle. A young cow is led into the fold belonging to the girl's father, then a young bullock, then another young cow, then a bull. The father comes out, and looking at the cattle says to the young man, "Take from amongst them a present from me." The bull is chosen.

Before leaving home for the wedding, the bridegroom arrays himself in a new upper garment — a kind of toga, made up only the day before. He also provides himself with a new hatchet, and with it cuts a switch with which to drive the cattle. Also he brings the fire-producing sticks — quite new ones which have never been used before for kindling a light — and he puts a pair of new sandals on his feet ; everything must be quite new, never before worn or used. The young man enters the dwelling-house of the bride's father, which is quite full of guests ; the bride, no longer able to run away or evade her lover's presence, is amongst them ; her mother as well as her father is also present. The bride sits in a position towards the north, looking quite overcome, and weeping. The bridegroom sits wherever he can find a vacant spot. Then begins the ceremony of tying knots in the fringe of the bride- groom's toga and in the fringe of the bride's garments. Each one present ties a knot, and these knots are never undone. Previously to the tying of the knots, the bride has been copiously besmeared with butter, and during the wedding ceremony melted butter is lavishly poured over her head and face until she shines