"Courting"

In wooing a prospective bride in the eighteenth century, custom demanded that a young Indian man proceed honorably. The procedure in some tribes or clans varied slightly, but generally the man did not approach the woman directly.  He would try to impress her from afar by demonstrating his bravery in battle, his skill as a hunter or, in this case, special music just for her.  He would send gifts to the woman’s family with a friend, who in turn would give the gifts to a friend or family member of the woman, to give to her parents.  The gifts were examined and the proposal was presented to the woman, who usually followed the wishes of her parents, but the decision in the end was hers.  Men generally married at the age of eighteen to twenty years.  Women would marry at the age of fourteen to sixteen, or sometimes even younger.  If the gifts were accepted and the woman agreed to marry, she was taken to the man’s lodge where she joined him with no further ceremony.  After this, the presents were divided between the family and close friends.  In return, they would bring the new couple gifts, usually consisting of food, baskets and utensils with which to start their new life together.  Occasionally, parents of a very young son would agree with parents of an equally young daughter that their children should marry at some future time.  They would try to persuade the youngsters to marry, but since they couldn’t compel it, the final decision was left to the young man and his bride to be. 

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