The World's Encyclopedia of Wonders and Curiosities

Everything a Victorian found astonishing, gathered into one enormous volume — burning springs and buried cities, freaks of storm and flood, the habits of bees and the manners of nations, filed under headings like “Curiosities Respecting Man.”

Curiosities Respecting Customs

40 pages in this part of Wonders and Curiosities.

Curiosities Respecting the Various Customs Of Mankind

Curious Demonstrations of Friendship-Singularities of different Nations in Eating-Female Beauty and Ornaments-Various Modes of…

Demonstrations of Friendship

when they have accomplished their object, they clap their hands and dance before him. by No customs seem more ridiculous, than those…

Singularities of Different Nations in Eating

The Maldivian islanders eat alone. They retire into the most hidden parts of their houses: when they draw down the cloths that serve as…

Female Beauty and Ornamen Ts

the people generally went by this criterion of majesty. In some countries, the mothers break the noses of their children; and others press…

Modes of Salutation. the Maiden

salutations consisted in the most ridiculous contortions. When two negro monarchs visit, they salute by snapping three times the middle…

A Chinese School

Edinburgn, where it was introduced by the regent Morton, who took a model of it as he passed through Halifax, and at length suffered by it…

Curiosities Respecting the Customs of Mankind

(Continued.) Marriage Ceremonies of different Nations-Marriage Custom of the Japanese-Bacon Flitch Custom at Dunmow, Essex-On the Origin of…

Marriage Ceremonies Es of Different Nations

Marriage ceremonies vary in different countries, and at different times. Where the practice is to purchase a wife, whether among savages…

Marriage Ceremonies

vene to make a choice. Those who fit themselves to their fancy pay the dowry; and, over and above, reward the old superintendant for his…

Bacon Flitch Custom, at Dunmow

BACON FLITCH CUSTOM AT DUNMOW, ESSEX.-Many persons who are so often jocular about a certain "Flitch of Bacon," with those who are supposed…

Origin of Rings

for stealing fire from heaven; in memory cracknowledgment of the favour he received from Jupiter, made himself, of one of those chains, a…

Origin of Rings: Gyges

Though the ring found by Gyges, shepherd to the king of Lydia, has more of fable than truth in it, it will not, however, be amiss to relate…

Hand-Fasting.-Funeral Ceremonies

perity of the contract. "Howbeit," he says, " it skilleth not at this day what metal the ring be of. The form of it being round, and…

Curiosities Respecting the Customs of Mankind (II)

(Continued.) Funeral Ceremonies of the Ancient Ethiopians-Funeral Ceremonies of the Chinese-Ancient Funeral Ceremonies of the…

Funeral Ceremonies of the Ancient Ethiopians

The Ethiopians had very particular ceremonies in their funerals. According to Ctesias, after having salted the bodies, they put them into a…

Funeral Ceremonies of the Chinese

which they place on the table some perfumes and wax candles. Their salutations are returned by the eldest son, accompanied by his brothers…

Funeral and Marriage Ceremonies of the Dajak

KESE INHABITANTS OF BORNEO. - The corpse is placed in a coffin, and remains in the house till the son, the father, or the nearest of blood…

Marriage.ancient Modes of Mourning

wife. The heads procured in this manner, they preserve with great care, and sometimes consult in divination. The religious opinions…

Feasts Among Various Nations (Society This species)

society. This species of enjoyment (abstracted from its susceptibility of abuse) makes but one family of all that it brings together. It…

Feasts Among Various Nations: Romans

Among the Romans, the place where they supped was generally the vestibule, that a more retired part of the house might not encourage…

Feasts Among Varicus Nations

had consumed all the provisions and exhausted all the liquors.

Feasts Among Varicus Nations: Britons

As to the drink used at those feasts, particularly in Britain, it seems probable, that before the introduction of agriculture into the…

Feasts Among Various Nations (Wealthy baron to imitate)

and wealthy baron to imitate, in his own castle, the entertainments he had seen in the palace of his prince. Many of the clergy, too, both…

Feasts Among Various Nations: Henry

When Henry II. entertained his own court, the great officers of his army, with all the kings and great men of Ireland, in Dublin, at the…

Feasts Among Various Nations: England

The nuptials of Alexander III. of Scotland, and the princess Margaret of England, were solemnized at York, A. D. 1251, with still greater…

Feast of Lanterns

ladders were thrown down; but at length the city was taken. Intermeats at ordinary banquets consisted of certain delicate dishes…

Curiosities Respecting the Customs of Mankind (III)

(Continued.) Origin of the Sheriff's counting Hobnails-Origin of the Order of the Garter-Origin and History of the Claim and Allowance of…

Order of the Garter.-Benefit of Clergy

buildings on it, came to the mayor and citizens of London; and they, by the sheriffs, have continued to render them into the Exchequer…

Benefit of Clergy

and might then claim the Benefit of the Clergy as an excuse for pleading, or might demand it after conviction: and the latter of these…

Benefit of Clergy: Solomon

CURIOUS TENURES. - A farm at Broadhouse, in Langsett, in the parish of Peniston, and county of York, pays yearly to Godfrey Bosville, Esq…

Origin of May-Poles and Garlands

sheriffs of Norwich a hundred herrings, which are to be baked in twenty-four pies or patties, and delivered to the lord of the manor of…

Curiosities Respect.ng Customs

sports during these sweet days of freedom. The May-pole, then, was the English tree of liberty. How are these times of village simplicity…

Curiosities Respecting the Customs of Mankind (IV)

(Continued.) Shrovetide-Candlemas Day-Origin of Valentine's Day- Origin of Plough Monday-New Year's Gifts-Origin of Christmas…

Cl Riosities Respecting Customs

He ordered, that upon ringing of a bell in every parish, the apprentices should leave work, and shut up their shops for that day; which…

New Year's Gifts - Passion Week

on Twelfth-day, and the ploughing season for the new year commenced the first Monday after; on which day, the sockmen (as this sort of…

St. Swithin's Day.--Curfew Bell

In the year 805, St. Swithin, bishop of Winchester, dying, was canonized by the then pope. He was singular in his desire to be buried in…

Heathen Religion

IT is manifest that the first fostering of the religious spark is derived from the phenomena of the sensible world. The attention of man…

National Religion. -Priests. - Fables

ALL the religions of the ancient paganism may be reduced to one or the other of these classes; yet their characters are nowhere to be found…

Praying Machines.--Penance at Calcutta

of the temple, small kürdä placed close to each other, in rows, by way of ornament; and not only over the gates, but like. wise in the…

Curious Account of an Expiatory Penance At

CALCUTTA.-About a mile from the town is a plain, where the natives annually undergo a very strange kind of penance on the 9th of April…

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