﻿BANQUETS. 407 



to lieat the bath room, to bring in water, and to 

 prepare food. Then he is asked who he is, and 

 why he performs these offices. In reply he ex- 

 presses his wish to have the daughter for a wife, 

 and if his suit be not rejected, he remains as a 

 servant in the house a whole year. At the end of 

 that time he receives a reward for his services 

 from the father, and takes home his bride. No 

 marriage ceremony takes place. Rich men have 

 three or four wives. The wife, though the most 

 industrious worker in the family, is not the slave 

 of her husband. She may return, if dissatisfied 

 with the treatment she receives, to her father's 

 house, and then she takes with her the dowery the 

 husband received at the conclusion of his year of 

 service. The Avife retains as her own property 

 whatever she gains by her labours, and it often 

 happens that the husband makes purchases from 

 her. If there be several wives in a family, each 

 has her own household stuff, which may not be 

 meddled with by the other wives, or by any 

 member of the household. 



Banquets, accompanied by dances, songs, and 

 distribution of presents, take place on various 

 occasions. A man, on recovering from sickness, 

 will sive a feast for the benefit of those who have 



o 



shown him most sympathy during his illness. One 

 who spends freely on these occasions is looked up 



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