RACES BIBLIOGRAPHY COMMITTEE. 313 
When the first child is born the father cooks a pig and food, and 
the belt, being purchased with food, is then fastened on, there to 
remain until rotten, or, on death of a near relation, it is cut off. 
When in the Eramo, various kinds of food may not be eaten, 
especially taro. Sago and bananas may be eaten, and only a very 
few kinds of fish. The young man’s hair is shaven off on entering 
by a friend, for whom he will do the same. 
Not until after they have left the Eramo is the “ Roaring 
Bull” seen. On the occasion of its being worked all women and 
children and young men keep away. Near to here are two large 
houses filled with masks, which are all very sacred, and are now 
kept from vulgar gaze until after a large feast, soon to be held, 
when they will be used for dancing, and afterwards burned. A short 
time ago two old men sat in one of the houses, communicating 
with the spirits and working the “Bull.” Large quantities of 
food were brought them by men. Not until a youth has been 
in the Eramo can he wear a mask or join in the dances and 
drum-beatings of the tribe, and only then is he considered a man. 
Not until he has descended from the Eramo does he know a 
woman. All singing, dancing, and drum-beating are considered 
sacred, and never uselessly done. 
There is no circumcision practised in the Toaripi Tribe. 
MARRIAGE. 
When about fourteen years of age, boys and girls go planting 
in different places, and there is a custom (Hiriho), when the 
afternoon arrives, the boys get their bows and arrows and rush 
the girls, who make for the sea, and if one of them is wounded, 
she is supposed to become the wife of the boy who fired the arrow. 
Many girls attend school who, a few days ago, were wounded. 
As already stated, there is no betrothal in infancy. A young 
man gives areca nuts to a girl, and she tells her parents, and the 
young man informs his. The youth’s father then gets bananas 
and areca nuts and carries them to the maiden’s parents, and if 
accepted they are said to be betrothed, and the girl carries firewood 
at night to the boy’s home. They are not married until the young 
man leaves the Eramo. Should the girl not care for the lad, she 
informs her parents, and the bananas and areca nuts are returned. 
Before marriage, food is collected in large quantities by parents 
and relations of the young man, and on a fixed day carried to the 
girl’s home. Her parents dress her in feathers, arm-shells, shell 
necklaces, and best petticoats. The bridegroom remains at his 
home. The girl, when dressed, sits on a mat in presence of the boy’s 
parents and eats out of a dish cooked specially for her. She then 
rises, and her father places on her shoulder a bow and a bundle of 
arrows, and she then accompanies the boy’s parents to their home. 
A large party accompanies them, all carrying food, and preceded 
