8 POLYGAMY. 



upon it. If not answered immediately it is repeated ; 

 if still unanswered^ a larg-e fire is g"ot up and allowed 

 to burn until an answer is returned. 



Polyg-amy is practised both on the mainland and 

 throughout the islands of Torres Strait. Five is the 

 g'reatest number of wives which I was credibly 

 informed had been possessed by one man^ — but this 

 was an extraordinary instance^ one^ two^ or three^ 

 being* the usual complement^ leaving- of course many 

 men who are never provided with wives. The posses- 

 sion of several Avives ensures to the husband a certain 

 amount of influence in his tribe as the owner of so 

 much valuable property^ also from the nature and 

 extent of his coimections by marriag-e. In most cases 

 females are betrothed in infancy^ according- to the 

 will of the father^ and without reg'ard to disparity of 

 ag'Cj thus the fatm*e husband may be and often is 

 an old man with several wives. When the man 

 thinks proper he takes his wife to live with him 

 without any further ceremony^ but before this she has 

 probably had promiscuous intercourse with the young- 

 men, suchy if conducted with a moderate deg'ree of 

 secrecy, not being considered as an offence, althoug-h 

 if continued after marriag*e it would be visited by 

 the husband (if powerful enoug'h) upon both the 

 offendin g- parties wit the severest punishment. 



Occasionally there are instances of strong- mutual 

 attachment and courtship, when, if the damsel is not 

 betrothed, a small present made to the father is 

 sufficient to })rociu'e his consent j at the Prince of 



