MARRIAGE CEREMONIES. 17 



The mode of solemnizing marriages among 

 the Kamtschatkans was tedious, and, on the 

 part of the bridegroom, attended with many 

 difficulties. A man who wished to marry a 

 girl went to the house of her parents, and with- 

 out farther declaration took his share in the 

 domestic labours. He thus became the servant 

 of the family, and was obliged to obey all their 

 behests, till he succeeded in winning the favour 

 of the girl and her parents. This might con- 

 tinue for years, and even in the end he was 

 liable to be dismissed, without any compen- 

 sation for his trouble. If, however, the maiden 

 was pleased, and the parents were satisfied with 

 him, they gave him permission to catch his 

 beloved ; from this moment the girl took all 

 possible pains to avoid being alone with him, 

 defended herself with a fishing-net and nume- 

 rous girdles, all which were to be cut through 

 with a stone knife, while all the family were 

 upon the watch to rescue her at the first out- 

 cry : the unfortunate lover had probably no 

 sooner laid hands upon his bride than he was 

 seized by her relations, beaten, and dragged 



