290 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 52 



cultivation. The forests in most of these districts have been de- 

 stroyed in order to make room for vegetable gardens. Only the 

 forests in the mountain regions west of Niitaka-yama (Mt. Morri- 

 son) are available for lumber. On account of the steepness and 

 ruggedness of the country inhabited by the northern tribes arable 

 lands in that district are scarce. But the land of the Atayals is dis- 

 tinctly rich in forest products, especially in camphor. There is also 

 a bright prospect for gold mining in this district. The northern 

 savage district indeed offers prospects of much wealth. 



Customs and Practices 



The following notes on customs and practices among the savage 

 tribes of Formosa are translated from Mr. Ino's investigations of 

 this subject: 



Marriage 



In the following particulars marriage customs are uniform 

 throughout the savage district of Formosa: 



1. Marriage is effected by a definite ceremony. 



2. When the marriage state is once entered into, the relation of 

 husband and wife continues perpetually unless a divorce be made, 

 the reasons for which must be publicly announced. 



3. A woman having married once, is not allowed to remarry. 



4. Monogamy obtains throughout the various tribes, and is strictly 

 adhered to. 



5. Intermarriage between near blood relatives is forbidden. 



6. Husband and wife possess equal rights. 



The method of effecting marriage differs with the various groups. 

 Among portions of the Vonuum and Tsou groups, there is still a 

 trace of marriage by capture. The Atayal and Vonuum groups 

 practice the "competitive marriage." Among some of the tribes of 

 the Vonuum group "exchange marriages" obtain. The Tsarisen, 

 Paiwan, Puyuma, and Amis tribes effect marriage by exchange of 

 gifts. 



The relations of husband and wife are, generally speaking, dis- 

 tinctly cordial throughout all the groups, and divorces are very ex- 

 ceptional. However, in the case of the Tsarisen tribes, if a mar- 

 riage results in the birth of no children after a certain prescribed 

 period, then divorce ensues. Should the husband die before the 

 wife gives birth to a child, the woman is privileged to remarry ; but 

 should the child be born before the death of the husband, the mother, 

 in the event of the death of her husband, is not privileged to remarry, 



