The Osage Wedding of Mac and Metzahe
The following is based on a true story
Metzahe, first daughter, waited at the edge of the stream which
flowed into the bigger river. Her tribe's encampment was close but she
had slipped away from her teepee. She did so at the risk of causing the death of the "Duena" - an
elderly female guardian who was appointed to watch over the young maidens
of the tribe.
Guardians accepted the position of Duena knowing they would have to
give up their life if one girl slipped away under their watch. This
ancient Osage tradition was a way of preserving social order in tribal
communities and it had the added benefit of preserving a young women's purity
before marriage.
As Metzahe looked out across the stream she could see the
bright reflection of the moon playing like a child in the quiet waters.
There was a sudden feeling of awareness of the approach of her lover,
Mac, a young Scotsman whom she had fallen in love with. He, too, had slipped away from his people's place to meet her here.
When she looked around toward the woods she say the foliage break apart
and he stepped out into the light of the moon. His lithe strong stride
could have been that of one of her people and he covered the distance to
her in a moment it seemed.
"I know, Metzahe, but tomorrow this is the last time. Be here at the
same time and we will leave here together. I have everything arranged
for our marriage in another state."
They were lovers and they were young, learning to know each other
and to be certain their lives were meant to be shared no matter that
Mac was a Scot and Metzahe was a Native, granddaughter of a mighty
chief. Within the time frame of three months the girl was to learn she
had conceived their first child.
Mac picked up the little pistol he kept with him even as he slept and he waited. The oldest and biggest of Metzahe's brothers was coming toward him. The young Scot knew they would beat him to death if given the opportunity. In a flash, they were on Mac: As one large man grasped him in a bear hug, Mac brought the cold steel of the pistol up against the larger man's head.
Something about the standing up against the men showed them Mac was
willing to fight for the right to keep his Native wife and they left him
alone.
Now that a small bridge had been built, the women of the tribe were
having communication with Metzahe.
"We are married, by his ways," said Metzahe.
"No, you are not married," they told her."Not until you are
joined in our ceremony."
These coats were of no interest to the men, but somehow, the women
liked them and they were used as a wedding coat and it reflected to
those around that this was, indeed, the daughter of the chief, and in
Metzahe's case, the granddaughter of one of the mightiest chiefs. The
chief who was respected for his valor, and his intelligence in
protecting and governing his own people with love and kindness.
Mac wore a full regalia of Metzahe's tribe. His beaded garters on
his leg below his knee was that of the Faw-Faw design. The broadcloth
leggings he wore under the fully beaded britchlot. The ribbon shirt he
wore was out of the finest silk. There were the finger woven belts worn
as a drop down the side of his leg from his waist. He wore no brooch
because he was Scot, not Osage, and had no name given to him.
The bridesmaids wore the traditional wool blanket which was folded in
such a way as to keep their right arm free. This was so they could cook
or work without the blanket hampering any of their activity. There had
already been a mixing of blood between the Scot and the natives and
these bridesmaids were beautiful in their inheritance from each race.
The finalizing of the vows was to have the inner forearm of the bride
and groom slit with a sharp knife. They then placed their arms one upon
each other so the blood could flow from one to the other. The wide
stripe of a finger woven chevron patterned belt was draped over their
arms as the native blood flowed from Metzahe's veins to that of Mac's
blue blood of Scotland causing him to become, as one known to be of her
native tribe.
This article was used with permission of Donna Flood, Webmaster of Donna's Doorways at http://stonescry.tripod.com.
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Thursday, December 26th, 2019
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