very strict in their laws respecting marriage; and it was perhaps necessary that they should be so, to prevent the probability of their falling into idolatry by taking to wife the females of the heathen nations through which they had to pass into Judea; and when that danger was over, and they were safely settled in the land promised to their forefathers, they framed laws equally strict for the guidance of the females of their own nation, and to preserve the lineal descendants of their families free from stain.

ARCTIC REGIONS.-GREENLAND, ICELAND,

LAPLAND, &c.

THE young Greenlanders having obtained the consent of the parents on both sides, the bride is fetched by two or more women; and the custom of the country requires that this should appear to be done by force. When she is brought to the bridegroom's house, she places herself in a corner, with her hair all disheveled, and covering her face with abashment. By kind assiduities and persuasion this assumed coyness is removed, the maiden at length relents, and the wedding is concluded.

The cutting off the hair is a preventive to marriage, the want of it being considered a high disgrace. The hardships women labour under till they have grown-up sons make them unwilling to marry, but when this has taken place, their situa-. tions become comparatively enviable. The sons supporting the mother either in her own house, or, if the father be dead, in his house, where the mother is the sole mistress, even over the wives of her sons.

If the first wife do not breed, the Greenlander will sometines take a second wife, as it is considered a reproach not to have a son.-Sterility often produces a divorce, which is much easier accomplished than by an English process, the man only giving her a sour look, packing up her clothes, and sending her back to her friends, where she will conduct herself with the greatest circumspection to bring an odium upon him. If a wife have no sons, and cannot agree with the other women in the house, she will elope, for the possession of sons is to the Greenlander a treasure, and the best security for his possessions. In their bridal dress, they muster as much humble finery as they can produce.

The ICELANDISH young bride wears round the head dress, and close to her face, a silver-gilt crown. Chains are suspended from her neck, and to one is attached a little heart, in which some

very strict in their laws respecting marriage it was perhaps necessary that they should to prevent the probability of their falling intel try by taking to wife the females of the 1 nations through which they had to pass into and when that danger was over, and th safely settled in the land promised to th. fathers, they framed laws equally strict guidance of the females of their own nati to preserve the lineal descendants of their free from stain.

ARCTIC REGIONS.—GREENLAND, 1

LAPLAND, &c.

THE young Greenlanders h

consent of the parents on

fetched by two or more of the country requi be done by f bridegroo with

W

sion ..

at length relen

Σ

unt the wedding is

or two. After the nediction, the brideher-in-law a whole year, welling with his spouse, m his friends and relais is jealously watched, r ever visit her.

ranslated some Laplandossess much simplicity

PRINCE REGENT'S BAY, IN Ross, in his voyage in e purpose of exploring a the Pacific ocean, met ove place, who, from the ey expressed, appeared to r ships or Europeans. They h Captain Ross, on the ice, in and long. 65 deg. W. A conried on by a person on board, e of South East Bay, Greenland, d Sacheuse, who could only make y understand the Esquimaux. Their > about 5 feet, and they were square set, ulent. Though we cannot give any acthe marriage ceremonies in these horrid is, their dances, like the similar amusements nore southerly climates, contained those indeli

kind of perfumes are put. Upon this occasion all Icelandish women wear such a dress, the only difference consisting in the quality of the cloth and ornaments. The head-dress of the married women distinguishes her from the unmarried.

In LAPLAND friends are employed as negociators with the girl's parents.-Brandy is an essential requisite in these bitter climates, and supplied with plenty of this, the lover with his friends advances to the hut of the young woman's father, but he is not suffered to enter till the liquor is drunk, over which they discuss the proposals. The lover is then called in, but his mistress must not be seen by him. Leave being obtained to commence his addresses, he flies home, dresses himself in his best apparel, and returns to the hut; when his mistress makes her appearance, and he salutes her with a kiss, at the same time presenting a rein deer's tongue, or some other salted provision. The reserve of the girl makes her decline such a bold measure, offered in the presence of her relations; but this modesty is very short lived, for she beckons him out, and accept his presents. If she throws them with disdain on the ground, his addresses are rejected; but, if they are retained, the lover loses no time, but requests permission to sleep in her hut, which establishes the court-, ship. Every time he visits his intended bride, a bottle of brandy must be presented as a perquisite