at 
811 
reached on this point the suitor or some one of his relatives goes to her 
parents to ask if the suit will be favorably considered. If an affirmative 
answer is received they return and a little later take presents to the father 
of the prospective bride. If he is satisfied, he gives his consent. If 
not, more presents must be forthcoming. Betrothals are made by 
parents for children of very tender years, but actual marriage does not 
take place until about the age of puberty. 
The marriage ceremony varies in Zambales from practically none at 
all in the Pinatubo region to a rather complicated affair in the vicinity 
of Olongapo. In some cases, as soon as payment has been made for the 
bride, a dance follows, after which the young couple go to their own hut. 
_ In other rancherias there is a ceremony during which food is exchanged. 
A mat is placed on the ground and on it is set a dish of cooked rice. 
The bride and bridegroom seat themselves, facing each other, with the 
dish between them. The man places food in the mouth of the woman and 
she reciprocates, whereupon the crowd set up a shout and the ceremony is 
held to be terminated. Sometimes the girl runs away and her husband 
pursues her, calling to her to stop, and she ultimately does so. 
I once witnessed a marriage ceremony among the Negritos inhabiting 
Mount Mariveles, in Bataan Province. The bride and her friends hid 
in the forest. The bridegroom and his friends searched until they found 
them. The bridegroom then attempted to persuade the bride to go to 
the place where the ceremony was to be concluded, beating a gansa, 
dancing in front of her, and constantly retiring in the desired direction. 
The bride had a piece of cloth which she kept drawn over her head and 
face and she moved along the ground a few yards at a time in a squatting 
position. When the sweet music discoursed by the bridegroom failed to 
accelerate her progress sufficiently, he or his friends placed gifts a short 
distance in front of her. Ultimately she came out into a clearing in 
which a platform had been erected some 12 feet above the ground. An 
inclined plane of poles led up to this platform. The relatives of the 
bride gathered about her, armed with long rattans. The bridegroom 
made a rush for her, getting soundly whacked in the process. He seized 
her in his arms, and carried her up to the top of the platform, where both 
of them sat down with their arms interlocked. Some of their friends 
and relatives also mounted the platform. Others placed gifts at the 
bottom of the inclined plane to persuade the couple to come down. Ulti- 
mately they descended and squatted in front of an old man and an old 
woman who had been detailed to give them “good advice.” 
Mr. Reed states that divorce is not common among the Negritos of 
Zambales and that there seems to be a prejudice against it. My observa- 
tion is that it is quite common among the Negritos of Bataan. It is 
effected by mutual consent between the two persons interested, if their 
respective families agree to the arrangement. Where there has been no 
