Courtship in Kafiristan.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 266, 10 November 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

Courtship in Kafiristan.

There is something melancholy in the following account, given by the frontier correspondent of an Indian paper, of the customs of courtship amonsr tho remote tribes of Kafiristan: —A Kafir, having fixed his affections upon some female, acquaints his parents with his intentions. They apply to the parents of the girl, and if the latter do not consent to the union, a fight is inevitable. If the parties agree, the next proceeding is to appoint two expert female negotiators, who by stratagem, gain access to the house with the object of broaching the subject to the young lady. The lady ambassadors carefully avoid the sudden or abrupt mention of the awful subject of their mission, but launch out in praises of the gentleman who seeks her hand. They speak of his possessions, his courage, and other like accomplishments. The girl, pretending to be affronted even at these remote hints, grows refractory and runs aw,ay, tearing the ringlets of her hair as she retires ; while the female ambassadors having got the consent of the parents, drag her from her concealment, and carry her by force to the house of her destined husband, and there leave her, where phe is compelled to remain for days silent and dejected, refusing food, till at last, if kind entreaties do not prevail, she is made to submit by blows to the union. The Kafir who has the reputation of having committed a number of murders of Mahomedans enjoys exceptional privileges ; he is respected by ail in the neighbourhood, and experiences little or no difficulty in procuring a wife for himself. The Kafir woman is doomed to a life of toil and drudgery, and the husband has- the option of discarding her any moment he feels so disposed.