152 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



The Kalmucks of Siberia have no religious mar- 

 riage ceremony, but the customs connected with that 

 event, as described by Mr. Samuel Turner ' in his 

 volume of travel in Siberia, are very picturesque. He 

 says : ' They indulge in a feast, killing what they 

 have previously captured for the occasion, which is 

 usually a wild sheep, but if no sheep is available 

 they kill and eat a horse. The father and mother 

 of the bride build the couple a fairly commodious 

 bark hut. This has two large doors, to enable the 

 wedding guests to ride through on horseback. The 

 bride and bridegroom stand aside and wait for them, 

 and all they can pull off the back of the horse or the 

 person of the rider becomes their property. The guests 

 arrive, with the wedding presents hung about them. 

 These may be spoons, pails, or any other articles of 

 domestic use. It is needless to say that the list of 

 presents is not quite as elaborate or imposing as that 

 which figures at some of our fashionable weddings." 



The Koraks of Siberia have some very curious mar- 

 riage customs. In his book of travel in Siberia, 2 Mr. 

 Washington B. Vanderlip gives the following account 

 of the wedding customs : ;< When a native resolves 

 to marry he looks out for a bride, not in his own 

 village but in a neighbouring one. When he finds 

 a girl who pleases him he tells her parents that he is 

 desirous of serving them, and during this period of 

 probation he works most industriously in order to make 

 a good impression. At last he asks permission to 

 steal the girl. If his suit is looked upon with dis- 

 favour he is paid for the service he has rendered and 

 sent away, but if he is acceptable to the girl and to 

 1 See Bibliography, 25. a See Bibliography, 26. 



