SAVAGERY AND SURVIVALS. 391 



only qualified to marry after lie has succeeded in killing a polar 

 bear without assistance. This is taken as an evidence of his 

 ability to provide for the wants of the household. In Turkey a 

 prominent part of the ceremony is the chasing of the bridegroom 

 by the guests, who strike him and hurl their slippers at him. 

 And what adds zest to the occasion is the fact that these on- 

 slaughts are usually led by the females who were disappointed 

 at the loss of a former lover. Another survival of marriage by 

 capture is discovered among the Ceylonese, where it is common 

 at royal marriages for the king and queen to throw perfumed 

 balls and squirt scented water at each other. 



As stated above, even in the latter stage of marriage by pur- 

 chase, where the marriage contract is settled on a friendly basis, 

 the symbol of capture is still maintained. For example, after thS^ 

 purchase price is agreed upon, the girl is given the privilege of 

 running for her independence. This is known as " bride-racing," 

 and takes various forms. In one instance, the girl is mounted on 

 a swift horse ; she is given a good start, and then pursued by her 

 lover similarly mounted. If he overtakes her, she becomes his 

 bride. If not, the marriage is declared off. As a rule, however, 

 after a little exciting sport, the girl allows herself to be over- 

 taken. 



Among other tribes, we find the symbol of capture perpetuated 

 in the foot race, or water chase in canoes ; or the race may be run 

 through a series of tents, as observed by Mr. Kennan in Siberia. 

 In this case all sorts of obstructions are placed in the way of the 

 groom by the friends of the bride, and if he be successful in run- 

 ning the gantlet and jumping the improvised hurdles in time to 

 catch the girl he becomes a Benedict. It is also a custom for the 

 " fair one," if she be more fleet-footed than her lover, to wait 

 kindly in the last tent until he joins her. 



Thus it is general among uncivilized peoples to accompany 

 the wedding ceremony with violence of some sort. Kicking and 

 screaming on the part of the bride are considered an evidence of 

 modesty ; and the stouter her resistance and the more violent her 

 convulsions, the greater is she appreciated ever after by her hus- 

 band and her own friends. It is said even to-day that the young 

 girl hardest to woo is best appreciated by her lover. 



Marriage among the Greeks and Romans consisted of three 

 acts : First, the quitting of the paternal hearth ; second, the con- 

 ducting of the young girl to the house of her husband, accompa- 

 nied by relatives and friends and preceded by the nuptial torch. 

 Then the act of violence survives in the following, the third part 

 of the ceremony ; for at this point it was the duty of the groom 

 to seize the bride and carry her into his house without allowing 

 her feet to touch the sill. Around the domestic hearth the hus- 



