222 Courtship and Marriage among the Choctaivs. [March, 



the other, but beyond a mild protest no action was perceptible. 

 After a sufficient number of fish had been stowed away in the boat 

 by " England " and the natives, the latter proceeded to do full 

 justice to three-quarters of our elaborate lunch. Once more the 

 sails were set and we sped homeward. Wave after wave passed 

 over the dancing boat until finally the shore was reached. Wet, 

 not hungry, trying to look cheerful, but nevertheless with a cart- 

 load of fish to speak for us, we arrived at our hotel near noon. 

 Strange as it may appear, it proved to be a rash undertaking, for 

 some time to come, to mention " flying fish " within hearing of 

 three certain sportsmen. 



Barbados has become a prominent health resort, more particu- 

 larly for fever patients from more southerly regions. For many 

 years the island has been free from serious attacks of epidemic or 

 endemic diseases. South of Bridgetown, a suburb, Hastings, is 

 located, where good sea-bathing and comparatively cool air can 

 be enjoyed. The climate is necessarily enervating, and any stimu- 

 lant of such character is a welcome change. Many of the planters 

 and merchants have traveled extensively, and their experiences 

 in foreign countries have borne fruit in their own colony. 



Once more the gauntlet of officious porters and boatmen must 

 be run, as the southward steamer has anchored offshore. Laden 

 with trophies from the island, with coral shells and other equally 

 bulky souvenirs, the traveler finds himself reslored to his tempo- 

 rary floating home, and 



" The ship drove past * * * 



COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE AMONG THE CHOC- 

 TAWS OF MISSISSIPPI. 



THE two thousand Choctaws still living in their ancestral homes 

 in Mississippi, retain, in all their pristine vigor, many of the 

 usages of their ancestors. Among these are the methods em- 

 ployed in conducting a courtship and the marriage ceremony. 



When a young Choctaw, of Kemper or Neshoba county, sees 

 a maiden who pleases his fancy, he watches his opportunity until 

 he finds her alone. He then approaches within a few yards of 

 her and gently casts a pebble towards her, so that it may fall at 



