In the evening of the first Sunday after St.John Baptist's day the ginger-bread-bakers come thither from Rezbanya and Topanfalu with their horses dragging loads of honey-cakes, and barrels full of meal and brandy, and pitch their tents in the forest-clearing.

On that Sunday the highlands are full of merry folks, and the maiden-market is held there.
"From near and far repair thither the mothers and their marriageable daughters, all tricked out with their dowries ready in the shape of strings of gold and silver coins round their necks, with bright variegated garments at their horses' sides, and stuffed pillows and painted pitchers on the saddles in front of them.

All these things they unpack and arrange in rows in front of the tents, just as at an ordinary fair; and then the purchasers come along, jaunty, connubially-inclined young fellows, who inspect the dowries, engage the wenches in conversation, and chaffer and haggle and go away again if they cannot come to terms.

Many of the girls are kept back, others are given up to the first bidder, and when once a couple is mated they are escorted to the tune of lively flutes and bagpipes to the first Kalugye,[26] or pastor, who sanctifies the union according to the religion of the spouses.
[Footnote 26: Or rather, _Calugaru_, monk, not pastor.] "Your ladyship laughs at this custom, yet it is capable of a very natural explanation.

The inhabitants of these Alpine regions live necessarily far away from one another--how else could they tend their herds ?--even the nearest neighbours being a good stiff half hour's walk apart.