Ch.VI. south AMERICA. 413 



After a young man has asked the object of his 

 affections of" her father, and obtained his consent, they 

 immediately begin to hve together as man and v/ife, 

 and assist the father-in-law in cultivating his chácara. 

 At the end of three or four months, and often of a 

 year, he leaves his bride, without ceremony, and per- 

 haps for the wild reason above-mentioned : and 

 even expostulates with the father-in-law, thatbe should 

 endeavour to deceive him, by imposing upon him 

 his daughter, whom nobody else had thought wojthy 

 of making his bedfellow. But if nothing of this 

 happens, after passing three or four months in this 

 commerce, which they call Amanarse^ i. e. to habi- 

 tuate one's self, they then marry : and this custom is 

 still very common, having hitherto proved too strong 

 for the joint endeavours of the M'hole body of the 

 clergy to extirpate. Accordingly, the first question 

 at the ceremony of marriage is, v/hether they are 

 amamiados, in order to absolve them of that sin be- 

 fore they receive the nuptial benediction. They look 

 upon no marriage to be legal which is not solemn, 

 and according to them the whole consists in the nuptial 

 benediction,whichmustbegiventhematthetime they 

 join their hands, as otherwise, on any caprice, they 

 separate : and It is to no purpose to go about to per- 

 suade them that tliey were married ; nor will any 

 punishment have the least effect. For as it does not 

 imply any infamy, the intention is lost. It is the 

 same thing with them to be exposed to the pubhó 

 derision andinsults, as to be ordered to shew their skill 

 in dancing on a festival; the thing which, of all others, 

 they most delight in. They are indeed sensible of 

 ■corporal punishments during the time they are inflict- 

 ing, but immediately afterwards are as placid and easv 

 as if they had not been touched. This occasions 

 many things to be connived at in them, and other 

 •means of prevention used. 



If 



