98 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY | r.i ll. 4:i 



The most detailed account is that of Du Tratz, hirgely l)ased, how- 

 ever, on the authority of another eyewitness : 



If a boy and a girl suit eacli other and they desire to marry, it is neither 

 the fathers nor the parents, still less the mothers or the relations, who con- 

 cern themselves in this matter. It is only the chiefs of the two families, who 

 are ordinarily great-grandfathers and sometimes more. These two old men 

 have an interview, in which, after the demand for the girl has been made on 

 the part of the boy, they examine whether there is any relationship between 

 the two parties who wish to marry and in what degree, for within the third 

 degree, inclusive, they never marry. This interview of the old men assumes 

 that the alliance suits them, and that already it has been agreed to by the 

 fathers, grandfathers, and others as far up as the family chiefs, for if ony one of 

 them disapproves of it it is never concluded. Among these nations which we 

 treat as savages the laws never suffer interpretation so as to authorize childi'en 

 to bring into the family of their fathers women who would not at all suit 

 them and give them a posterity which would displease them from the moment 

 of birth. In the same way the avarice, the ambition, and many other passions 

 so well known in the ancient world never stifle in the fathers the natural feel- 

 ing which makes ns desire that our blood be perpetuated, and does not lead 

 them to antagonize their children beyond all reason, still less to force their 

 inclinations. By an admirable agreement and one well worthy of being imi- 

 tated, only those who love each other are married, and those who love each 

 other are married only when their parents agree. 



Boys rarely marry before having reached the age of 25. Before that age 

 they are regarded as still too feeble, without understanding, and without 

 experience. 



When the old men have agreed upon the marriage and have appointed the 

 day, the necessary preparations to celebrate are made. The men go to hunt. 

 The women prepare the maize and furnish the boy's cabin as well as their 

 skill and their means permit. The day agreed upon having come, the old man 

 on the side of the girl comes out of his cabin and conducts the girl to that of 

 the boy. The entire family follows in order and silently, and those who laugh 

 do so only moderately. 



He (the old man) finds outside of the latter cabin all the relatives of the boy, 

 who I'eceive him and salute him with their common cries of joy, hou hou, many 

 times repeated. He enters. The old man on the side of the suitor says, Cahan- 

 anctc, " It is you," to which he replies, Manattr. " Yes." The first old man again 

 begins to speak and, indicating with a joyful air the beds which serve as seats, 

 says to him, Pctchi, " Sit down." These people, as may be seen, are not fond of 

 giving compliments, and they do not treat each other better at home than they 

 do us when we go to see them. Such is their silent character. They think 

 they would lose time over things entirely useless if they spoke more than is 

 absolutely necessary. I will add that it is a very wise custom among them to 

 make the one who comes rest before entering upon the conversation. The time 

 which they give to breathe is perhaps a half of a quarter of an hour. 



After this period of repose the old men rise, and making the intended bride 

 and groom advance between them, ask llicm if lliey are satisfied to take cncli 

 other and if they love each other. They make them see that they ought not 

 to marry if they have not a sincere desire to live well togethei', that no one 

 compels them to unite, and that, having taken each other by their own choice, 

 they will be rejected from the family if they do not live together in peace. 

 After this injunction the own father of the boy brings the present which his 

 son is going to make and places it in his hands. The own father of the intended 



