330 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



the observance of a custom peculiar to these parts, and 

 which, when a man illtreats his wife, they never fail to 

 put in practice. Mine host of ' The Golden Star' had, 

 it seems, given his helpmate a beating, so it was resolved 

 that night the charivari was to begin. Accordingly at 

 midnight a troop of youths and men assembled before 

 the house of the offender, and having summoned him a 

 set dialogue was gone through. A certain formula is 

 always observed, and the questions put are as follow.* 

 " Today was killing-day, do you want to buy any fresh 

 meat ? What meat will you have ? M And then a re- 

 gular bargain is made about the price to be given. This 

 done, the culprit is allowed to retire; the troop gives a 

 good rattle on the wooden bench before the house, and 

 on they go to the next door, to summon the sleepers and 

 propose the same questions.f To evade the meeting is 

 impossible ; the inhabitant summoned must rise and hold 

 the usual parley ; and were he to refuse to open his door, 

 the inquisitorial band would batter it down. The noise 

 lasted from midnight till four o'clock. 



In Toltz and the neighbourhood there is also a custom 

 very similar to this ; it is however always attended with 

 much greater preparation, and in its observance more 

 caution is necessary. When any person, no matter who 

 it be, has committed some disgraceful act, the young 

 men for many miles round assemble, all armed, and go 

 to the house of the delinquent. He is called out, and 

 he is obliged to appear in the midst. His shameful con- 

 duct is then pointed out to him in terms not very com- 

 plimentary, and when he has been well reprimanded he 



* The German word " Fleisch" is used indiscriminately for "meat" 

 and "flesh," — the flesh of a person or animal. 



f At other houses they say where it was killing-day, in order that 

 every one may be acquainted with the name of the offender. 



