Some Phases of Sexual Morality and Church Discipline in Colonial New England Part 4

Van Corlear stopped occasionally in the villages to eat pumpkin-pies, dance at country frolics, and _bundle_ with the Yankee la.s.ses.

(_Knickerbocker, New York._)

Bundling is said to be practised in Wales. Whatever may have been the custom in former times, I do not think _bundling_ is now practised anywhere in the United States.

Mr. Ma.s.son describes a similar custom in Central Asia: "Many of the Afghan tribes have a custom in wooing similar to what in Wales is known as _bundling-up_, and which they term _namzat baze_. The lover presents himself at the house of his betrothed, with a suitable gift, and in return is allowed to pa.s.s the night with her, on the understanding that innocent endearments are not to be exceeded." (_Journeys in Belochistan, Afghanistan, &c._, vol. iii. p. 287.)--BARTLETT, _Dictionary of Americanisms_.

[19] Knickerbocker's History of New York, book iii. chaps. vi., vii.

[20] Elliott's The New England History, vol. i. p. 471.

[21] Letters of Mrs. Adams, (1848,) p. 161.

[22] History, pp. 384-386.

[23] Braintree Records, pp. 480, 499, 500, 523.

[24] See, also, Proc. Ma.s.s. Hist. Soc., 2d series, vol. iv. p. 10.

[25] Letters and Journals, p. 48.