292 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



covered twice, and the third time uncovered). Then the 

 priest advanced with a silver server, and received from 

 them their bridal rings, which he took into the third or 

 inner chamber, doubtless to bless. The priest then 

 advanced with four tapers lighted ; the bride and bride- 

 groom bent their heads, and with the unlighted end of 

 one of them the priest made the sign of the cross, first on 

 the top of the bridegroom's head, touching it in four 

 places, back, front, left, right, and then on the bride's, 

 saying a lesson or a prayer during the ceremony. The 

 tapers were handed to them in turn, and the other two 

 to the father and mother. Then followed a long prayer 

 and chanting, after which the young couple advanced 

 into the middle chamber, followed by the onlookers. 

 Incense was burned in a censer, waved by the priest, 

 prayers read, and the Bible held to the bridegroom's and 

 bride's lips to kiss, more prayers, in which the word 

 * Hhospodee ' (Lord) constantly occurred, and then two 

 gilt crowns were brought, the sign of the cross made with 

 them on the top of their heads, and then they were put 

 on. Then again prayers, and then wine was given in a 

 silver dish to the bridegroom, held to his lips by the 

 priest, and then to the bride, then to the bridegroom 

 and again to the bride, each drinking four times, the 

 bride finishing. The cross was then kissed, and the 

 father and mother kissed the Bible, and lastly the 

 bridegroom gave a kiss to the bride, and the ceremony 

 was concluded. 



May 10. 

 Monday, the 10th of May, was a cloudy, warm day, 

 the frost gone, and gleams of sunshine breaking through 

 now and then. Seebohm and I sledged across the river 

 and went to a more distant wood, where there w'as a 

 mixture of alder, birch, willow, spruce, and an occasional 



