ZULU MATCH-MAKING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10966, 4 June 1903, Page 6

ZULU MATCH-MAKING.

• ' . . A Zulu girl would feel very slighted if her father should give her away for nothing; She, wants to know her value and takes pride in seeing that ncr fiancee recognises it (a hint to American girls). Now when a yoiing man considers himself of age to marry, or when he sees other young inert bf his- age get married, then he too be'giiis to see that his own time has come for Bis series of marriages. Jle then tells his father about it/ This ho. does soon after he has located his first ,«vife. Then il the father thinks he is of age to marry arid th&Vboy's chbiqe^he takes the whole inatfer into, hisi own hjmds ; because.according, td'.-custom; a\ yotmg man can 1 never-gd- liiiriseif arid ask the father of a girl for his daughter, says the Boston Transcript. ' The father theft selects three men fr^m his relatives and sends them to introduce the subject to the girl's father. Now as" soon as these men enter the" yard tHey address the father in a style peculiar to such occasions only. After they have be'en admitted before the girl's father, they de t clare"tneir message. He gives them a very unfavourable reply. First' he tells them his daughter is not of dge and again he wduldi never let his daughter go to such people, as they. Then he definitely tells them that he does not want them, So they had better go away frorii his prcserice at once, "and" must never came back again for that purpose 1 .

jTKb party then leaves, not at all disi appointed, because' they know that it was simp/lya formal reply. After they ieave, he does ftlf Kfe can to find out how many cattle or how much property the young man's father Has, because this would guide him in his next reply.

Theparty returns after a few days. This ti'tne he tfepeats his first reply- and wonde"rs afc their 'most dating obstinacy.' They try fd talk him down this way and fhat way until, as. is the custom, he ..cools down. Then he. calls the daiigHter ifato 'the tbom'dnd a#ks her if she knows these" people. Sheanswers yes, and then she is dismissed. 'The father then' turns to the party and sets his price. , The most common price is ten head of cattle; bnt the"y are supposed* to bring one more than he a&ks, and that is fdr tlie "girl's mother as & reward. for her kind services^ in bringing up the girl. If he 5 found that the young man's family was 1 welt-to-do. ■Be • adda some . additional requests; silch as A good overcoat, blankets, and so on: Then, after ail this has been paid in, the wedding day is fixed and the' bf ide is prepared "for the occasion. ' " - The wedding day is one of the greatest excitement. Nobody asks himself whether or 'riot he is invited ; -that right' is- reserved only' for the relatives. The bridegroom fully prepares to feed from one thousand to three thousand people. The number rides according' to liis rank and to his popularity. Several oxen are slaughtered because meat is made the chief part of the feast. THe crdwd' begins to pour in from early' in; tEc mdfrting of the day. The ladies that attend on the bride are called out and shown their ox. If they do not like the look of it, they refuse it and waiif/ until another has been found that suits their fancy. This ox is then killed and its breast' is cooked for the ladies. The other oxen' fdr' the 1 rest of the people are slaiightterefl and boilfed in" large pots. Their laws of etiquette have fixed certain portions of the meat "to different' persons, these portidns miist be cooked separately. The ladieshave 'the' breast of an ox,' and it must be dressed dlid cttt only in a particular manner ; ii not they will reject it and therefore demand another ox to be slaughtered for them. The Head and ridck belong to the men. " The hindquarters go to the married women, and the heart and lungs are always given to the small boys, "who take their portion to 'the field" and roast it over the flame. " Alt' eaV the ' lungs .together; b«t when it comes to the heart, only the best fighters get a.taste of it, and the strongest one present is judge and ruler of the feast. Now at'hdme, while th§ meat and other foods are still cooking, the young people arc erigftg^iffila^cin^ alia talking ,and i% all sorts "df ■Jyfejlsielnißnts^ such as looking around iijp£jjsitij& brido.^. WKeri ijk^^feast is ready all the people separate in^difterent groups a'ccdr'diifg; to! sex and a^s£~,-'th&re eich. gtoup' receives itb pfe^cr^i|pdiitidn.' r The small boys form their^imp. near the men and receive' from thenyjwjhi^evei' they offer. But here, as an exception \,o the rule,' certain favourite young nilten;' accept Jkind invitations from ttie young 'ladies to come to their company. And since 'ifeifi iwn^ ladies always have the best part of . 'tie: feSst; such favoured yoiing m'eh are gsaeMfc by the less fortunate ones' ;Tsth envy.

After atylWe .ifeiisted, they fbriri » large circle and, ding" fficW f ayoiirite airs. , Ttio ce'ntfce is by those, whi> are specialists in' the art of dancing, compliments and loud cheers are paid to the suc'cesaful perforriiers. After they begin to feel weary; fhe bride's f,aiher with dignity and wtlli-measured strides steadily makes his way through thfe crowd fate ttife centre. The great" thrdifg' is hfislied'. tie, then in the mbah'Mfeiai&ffimii&nkr^presents his daughter to! tie young man's father. " He begins fir.st by citmg all the heroes that are found in her linea^,vcalJji»jf^her?honourjß,ble fath* era' and gsSavandestcflr? by, |fames. Then, after fie tas estabiisted for her a high anr cestral recor4,—n^ in "brief gives hdr'own histor^-nTirteealfh' itSa'alVher good" traits. TKen fye,Arially "decla^resfhat he resigns, his great charge and commands him to keep and provide for her.

The ydiin^ mstii's father, with no- less dignity,, receives her and pledges his protection. Then the ceremony is ended. All the. crowd then steadily begins to disperse until only the tiridal pa*tty remains. These leave. ihe hex\> morning, only a small girl, usually the bfideV youngest sister or dome relative remaining to keep her company imtil she is used to her new home.

Por.'CJifldren's Hacking dough at night, take Woods' Qreai Peppermint Cure, Is 6d anft 2k &S^ . ■ r . „ For Bronchial Conghj take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure* ■ Is 6d and"2s 6d, every, where.