ous, and received her as the reward of his valor.
Singular as this method of obtaining a fair lady by a price paid in
blood may appear, it was not peculiar to the northerns: we have already
taken notice of the price which David paid for the daughter of Saul, and
shall add, that among the Sacae, a people of ancient Scythia, a custom
something of this kind, but still more extraordinary, obtained: every
young man who made his addresses to a lady, was obliged to engage her in
single combat; if he vanquished, he led her off in triumph, and became
her husband and sovereign; if he was conquered, she led him off in the
same manner, and made him her husband and her slave.

LAPLAND AND GREENLAND LADY.

The delicacy of a Lapland lady, which is not in the least hurt by being
drunk as often as she can procure liquor, would be wounded in the most
sensible manner, should she deign at first to listen to the declaration
of a lover; he is therefore obliged to employ a match-maker to speak for
him; and this match-maker must never go empty handed; and of all other
presents, that which must infallibly secures him a favorable reception
is brandy. Having, by the eloquence of this, gained leave to bring the
lover along with him, and being, together with the lover's father or
other nearest-male relation, arrived at the house where the lady
resides, the father and match-maker are invited to walk in, but the
lover must wait patiently at the door till further solicited. The
parties, in the mean time, open their suit to the other ladies of the
family, not forgetting to employ in their favor their irresistible
advocate brandy, a liberal distribution of which is reckoned the
strongest proof of the lover's affection. When they have all been warmed
by the lover's bounty, he is brought into the house, pays his
compliments to the family, and is desired to partake of their cheer,
though at this interview seldom indulged with a sight of his mistress;
but if he is, he salutes her, and offers her presents of reindeer skins,
tongues, &c.; all which, while surrounded with her friends, she pretends
to refuse; but at the same time giving her lover a signal to go out, she
soon steals after him, and is no more that modest creature she affected
to appear in company. The lover now solicits for the completion of his
wishes; if she is silent, it is construed into consent; but if she
throws his presents on the ground with disdain the match is broken off
forever.