TRAVELS IN 
CHAP, V. 
Of their Marriage and Funeral Ceremonies* 
AS to their marriage ceremonies, they are very 
fnnple, yet differ greatly in the various nations and 
tribes. Amongft fome of the bands in the Mufco^ 
gulge confederacy, I was informed the myftery is 
performed after the following manner. When a 
young man has fixed his affections, and is deter- 
mined to marry, he takes a Cane or Reed, fuch as 
they ftick down at the hills of their Bean vines for 
their fupport : with this (after having obtained her 
parents' or neareft relations' confent) he repairs to 
the habitation of his beloved, attended by his friends 
and affociates, and in the prefence of the wedding 
gueds, he flicks his Reed down, upright in the 
ground ; when foon after his fweet-heart comes 
forth with another Reed, which fhe flicks down by 
the fide of his, when they are married : then they 
exchange Reeds, which are laid by as evidences or 
certificates of the marriage, which is celebrated 
with feafting, mufic and dancing : each one of their 
relations and friends, at the wedding, contribute 
fomething towards eftablifhing the new family. As 
1 foon as the wedding is over, the town is convened, 
and the council orders or recommends a new habi- 
tation to be conflructed for the accommodation of 
the new family ; every man in the town joins in 
the work, which is begun and finifhed in a day's 
time. 
The greatefl accomplishments to recommend a 
young man to his favourite maid, are to prove 
himfelf a brave warrior, and a cunning, induftrious 
hunter. 
They 
