Vicarious Courtship in Greenland.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1017, 11 June 1878, Page 7

Vicarious Courtship in Greenland.

♦ ' .From a newly-published work (" Danish Greenland, its People, and" Products," by Dr Henry. Rink, edited by Dv Robert Brown) the following delicious quotation of how the Equimaux manege their matrimonial affairs is taken :— - The suitor <cbmes to/ the; priest, . sayingj ( " I should like .to have a wife.' "'Whom V* He names her; "* -" Hast thou : spoken with her?" Sometimes they will say, "Yes she is not unwilling, but thou knowest womankind." More frequently they, will answer/ "No.", " r Why not?" "It is difficult; girls-a re prudish; thou must speak to her." In this case the priest summons the girl. She comes, and after some casual questions he begins the proposal in the following way : — " I think it is time now to have thee married." "I won't marry!" " Wh°.t a pity j I had a suitor for thee." "Whom!" The priest names him. ." He is good for nothing ; I won't have him." Then the priest enumerates his good qualities " He is a young clever provider, throws his harpoon with dexterity and power, and above all he loves thee." She listens to bis praise with attention, sod, as her manner indicate?, with pleasure, but still she answer*, " I won't marry ; I won't have him." "Well, I will not force the e ; I ahaljl soon find a wife for such a clever fellow 1 ." The priest then keeps silence, as if he considered her'*' No" as a decisive answer. At last she whispers with a sigh, and with tears .in her eyes, " Just as thou wilt have it, priest." " No. as thou wilt; I will not persnade tbee." Then follows with a deep groan a " Yes/ and the matter is settled. t