422 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Btraint upon this point, and, if the son declares that the selection of 

 his parents displeases him, there is no further question about the mat- 

 ter. In considering marriage as the most serious and grave act of life, 

 the Calmucks never undertake it without the benediction of their priest. 

 As soon as he, after having consulted the constellations under which 

 the affianced were born, declares that there are no obstacles to theh 

 marriage, one of the elder relatives, on the part of the boy, repairs to 

 the parents of the girl, and, after having regaled them with eau-de-vie^ 

 announces the object of his visit. It is rare that a refusal takes place 

 in these cases. The parents, having given their consent, may expect 

 the formal demand in marriage. Some days afterward, the father of 

 the affianced youth, having taken with him a provision of wine, a 

 sheep, a block of tea in the form of a brick, and a roll of paper contain- 

 ing a strap and a piece of fish-glue, accompanied with many friends, 

 who ought to be absolutely married, repairs to the khoton of the be- 

 trothed girl. Having arrived in the tent, he begins by serving out the 

 wine to all present ; then he brings up the sheep, which his friends kill, 

 and immediately put it into the caldron to be boiled. The little 

 packet, containing the tea, the strap, and the glue, is presented to the 

 father of the affianced girl. The tea is consumed at once, and the two 

 other objects, which represent the jewels of betrothal, are deposited on 

 the little table before the idols. 



The demand in marriage is shortly followed by betrothal, which 

 consists in the youth repairing to the khoton of his intended bride, and 

 offering her presents of dresses and stuffs. This, which takes place 

 without any thing in particular being said, gives occasion to a fresh 

 banquet. Between the betrothal and the marriage, there sometimes 

 elapses a whole year, or even more. During this long interval, some- 

 times the youth, sometimes his parents, come from time to time to see 

 the affianced. When she has completed her sixteenth year, the parents 

 of the youth address the priest, beseeching him to fix the propitious 

 and happy month and the day for the celebration of the marriage. 

 Afterward, some days before the date fixed, the whole family of the 

 young man go to the tent of the betrothed. The first day of their 

 arrival passes in doing the honors of reception ; the next day the 

 parents of the youth declare to those of the affianced girl their desire 

 that the ceremonies of the marriage should be accomplished, and at 

 the same time they endeavor to learn, in an indirect manner, to what 

 sum the expenses on the part of the young man would amount, and 

 what feasts ought to be offered to the most notable guests, to the ac- 

 quaintances and the parents of the girl. They never speak of dowry, 

 since the woman ordinarily receives every thing necessary for house- 

 keeping. 



The day of the marriage, the young man, with his assistants, well 

 provided with wine and viands, repairs to his future father-in-law's, 

 where they make a great feast. When the feast is concluded, he is 



