1^0.4 UPPER YUKON NATIVE CUSTOMS — SCHMITTER 13 



MARRIAGE 



An interesting old custom was that of the arrangement of mar- 

 riages during the infancy of the children. The question was settled 

 by the parents, who met in consultation and made all the arrange- 

 ments for the prospective marriage, choosing for the girl a boy 

 usually about three years older. Between the ages of lo and 15 

 the boy left home to live with the girl's parents, although they were 

 not married until the boy was able to hunt and work. The boy be- 

 <:ame a part of his wife's family and never returned to his own. 



Marriage usually took place between the ages of 16 and 20, but 

 sometimes as late as 25 years of age. Although the agreement had 

 l)een made by the parents of the intended bride and groom, yet their 

 ■own desires were considered before the actual marriage took place, 

 and they were not forced to marry unless they felt they were suited 

 for each other. 



On the death of a wife or husband it was not customary for the 

 survivor to remarry for several years, since the relatives of the de- 

 ceased might think the survivor was glad of the other's death. 



CEREMONIALS 



These Indians are quite strong in tradition, and no household event 

 is passed over without ceremonious observances that usually take 

 the form of "banquets," given by the person immediately interested. 

 Thus, at the birth of a child the father celebrates the event by giv- 

 ing a dinner to the entire tribe. A similar banquet is given when 

 the oldest boy kills his first bit of game, thereby attaining his ma- 

 jority and proving himself a hunter. It is incident to the custom 

 on this occasion for the youth to present a bird to the head man of 

 the tribe, while his father also makes the chief a present in token 

 of his esteem and pleasure at his son's accomplishment. 



Corresponding to the feast in honor of the boy's maturity, a simi- 

 lar celebration is held when a girl arrives at the age of puberty. 

 Everybody in the community is informed, and the girl's father gives 

 a dinner in honor of the event. The girl then goes about a mile 

 from home, where she lives in isolation for a year under the care 

 of a relative of her fiance. She does not eat fresh meat during this 

 year, and if she breaks the rule it is supposed to make the game 

 few in number and hard to get during the ensuing year. As a pun- 

 ishment, in case she violates this tradition, she is compelled to stay 

 away for another year and wear a peculiarly fashioned cap in the 



