academy or sciences) DOMESTIC LIFE AND MARITAL RELATIONS 107 



PRENATAL MARRIAGE CONTRACTS AND CHILD MARRIAGE 



Prenatal marriage contracts have been made in the upper Agusan, especially when it was 

 desired to secure the friendship of some more powerful chieftain. I was informed by a bagdni of 

 the upper Salug that it is not an uncommon thing for two warrior chiefs or other powerful men 

 to make such contracts in order to cement the friendship between themselves and between their 

 respective clans. He cited several instances, in some of which the sex of the child proved an 

 impediment to the carrying out of the prenatal marriage contract. Child marriages, however, 

 are not uncommon. I know of two cases in Compostela, in one of which the boy husband was 

 minor, the girl having already attained the age of puberty at the time of the marriage. In the 

 other case both were mere children. It is needless to say that cohabitation was not permitted 

 in the latter case. The marriage payment had been made in the usual way and the bride de- 

 livered over to her father-in-law. 



According to my observation, the young man is married somewhere between the ages of 

 17 and 20, and the woman from 13 to 16. The effect of these early marriages is very apparent 

 in the physical appearance of the wife after a few years of married life. On account of the 

 onerous duties that fall to the lot of the woman, only a staunch constitution can maintain 

 unblemished the bloom of youthful beauty. I am of the opinion that the average woman 

 reaches her prime at about 25 years of age. 



POLYGAMY AND KINDRED INSTITUTIONS 



It may be said that the Manobo is in practice a monogamist, but polygamy is permitted with 

 the consent of the first wife and, in cases that I have known, by her direction and even according 

 to her selection. She finds her work too burdensome and directs her husband to get another 

 helpmate. As a rule, however, it is only a warrior chief who has more than one wife, as he is 

 in a better position to procure the wherewithal to pay the purchase price, namely, slaves. I 

 am acquainted with a number of warrior chiefs, both Manobo and Mandaya, who have as many 

 as four wives, all dwelling in the same house, each having her little stall x and living in perfect 

 peace and happiness with her sister wives. There appear to be no jealousy and no family 

 broils, the wish of the first wife being paramount in all things. 



I found the abhorrence to polyandry so great and so universal that all tribes that I came 

 in contact with throughout eastern Mindanao branded the practice as swinish. 



Concubinage is unknown. In a country where a woman is worth a small fortune to her 

 relatives, and where she can not offer her love according to her own choice, but must follow 

 her relatives' desires, 21 it is not likely that she would be delivered over temporarily to even a 

 warrior chief, nor is she likely to be repudiated except for strong reasons. Hence divorce is 

 never allowed, as far as my observation and knowledge go, being considered an infringement 

 of tribal customs that would provoke divine wrath and bring disaster on the settlement. 



Among the non-Christianized Manobos I never heard of a case of prostitution. The mere 

 suggestion of it would probably result in a fine. Fornication, however, probably takes place, 

 but only very rarely and under very abnormal circumstances, as when the sexual temperament 

 of the girl and a very favorable opportunity encourage the transgression. I know of cases where 

 Manobo maidens actually recounted to their relatives improper suggestions on the part of 

 Bisayas, and in every case these relatives, with wild yells, and with menacing movements of 

 bolo and spear, collected a sufficient compensation to atone for the imprudence. In one instance 

 I paid the fine imposed upon a half -blind paddler of mine for a very innocent joke that was not 

 appreciated by the relatives of a certain woman. 



When, however, the Manobo is removed from the stern influences of his pagan institutions 

 he goes the way of all flesh, as may be observed by a study of conditions in conquista towns. 



I heard of a few cases of adultery among Christianized Manobos but, though the guilty 



" Sin-i-tmng. 



" I heard of a case in Guadalupe in which the girl, not being allowed to marry the man of her choice, took tuble poison and ended her life. 



