If the parents of the girl are pleased with the procedure of the suitor,
they commonly, at the end of the second year, dispense, in his favor,
with the rest of the probation-time; and, indeed, they could not well
before, the girl almost always wanting, from the time she is first
courted, at least two years to bring on the age of consummation. They
tell him, "Thou may'st now take a small part of the covering of thy
beloved whilst she sleeps." No sooner is this compliment made him, than,
without saying any thing, he goes out of the cabbin, armed with his bow
and arrows, and hurrying home acquaints his friends, that he is going to
the woods, whence he shall not return till it pleases his beloved to
recall him.
Accordingly he repairs forthwith to the woods, and stays there for two
or three days, diverting himself with hunting; at the end of which it
has been agreed on, to send all the youths of the village to fetch him:
and they come back loaded with game of all sorts, though the bridegroom
is not suffered to carry any thing. There is also great provision made
of seal and sea-cows for the wedding-feast.
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