A PIGMY WEDDING.

Evening Star, Issue 12763, 16 March 1906, Page 4

A PIGMY WEDDING.

, At Brandesburton Hall, a manor house a score of miles from Hull .&n&) and a few miles from anywhere;- two of the pigmies from the Itun Forest, Central Africa, have been spending their hottoynioonj surrounded by their dusky friends, who group themselves .around the Couple playing their native musical instruments and occasionally, bursting out into song or dance. The bnde is Kurake', the beauty of the party brought over by Mr James Harrison, and the groom is Matuka, a. warrior . twentythree years, of age, one year olden than Kurake. The marriage was entirely a love match. Matuka asked for no dowry, but, on the other hand, he paid nothing for his bride. In his native forest two spears and three, arrows is the lowest market price fot a wife, but in the fulness of her love Kurake declined to allow anything so sordid as money to enter into tho transaction. The two lovers went to their chief and said: “Bokane, we are going to get married.” There was some opposition at first, hut after a council had been held it was that the wedding should take place. Mr Hoffman,,, in whoso charge the pigmies are, was informed, and also Mr Harrison. Solemnly the bride aiid bridegroom brought forward in two baskets all their real and personal estate, consisting of heads, knives, razors, bracelets, etc. These were all emptied into one basket and shuffled together. Matuka _ then kissed his bride, and the other pigmies giggled, and - the mariage was at an.end. Then followed music, dancing, and general rejoicing.