THE LOLOS OF KIENTOHANG, WESTERN CHINA LEGENDRE. 585 



strong of both tribes. "Do they still wish to yield to their hatred, 

 to sacrifice themselves, forgetting that their wives, their children, and 

 their white-haired aged ones will soon have no protectors?" If her 

 prayer has no effect, as the warriors stand like statues, savagely 

 keeping silent, she begs them for the last time to listen to her. But 

 if the lances be not lowered, then heroically, with a bold gesture of 

 sublime immodesty, she throws aside her clothes and stands entirely 

 naked before the ranks of men. A clamor then breaks forth, vibrating 

 through the depths of the ravines, mounting to the summits, a clamor 

 of shame and of despair hurled forth by the warriors of both clans; 

 this time the lances are lowered and the deadly feud is closed. By 

 sacrificing her modesty the woman has triumphed; by this great 

 sacrifice all their hatred is thus suddenly ended. There is shame for 

 all these men for having provoked such an act by a respected wife of 

 a chief, there is shame, but endured entirely by them ! They tremble 

 with horror for a long time, recalling it with anguish. Modesty! 

 thou art not then merely a word in the land of the primitive Lolo! 



I will give an amusing account of the ceremonial accompanying 

 every Lolotte marriage; translated by Father Martin. 



As soon as the fiancee arrives in the tribe of her adoption the 

 marriage is celebrated with great pomp. If the family is well to 

 do, the sorcerer is called with his book of traditional conjurations or 

 adjurations and threats against evildoers. His rituals are said, a 

 cup of "chao tsieou" in the hand which he pours out on the ground 

 at the end or toward the four points of the compass; this is the 

 ritual gesture. His principal r61e is to clear from the path of the 

 young couple the evil genii, but he must also make some wishes for 

 their happiness, for abundance of good things of this world, for 

 posterity, and for long life. His cup of alcohol in hand, he cries: 



A libation ! A libation to the protecting spirits above, to the god Apou Ouosa, 

 to the shades below, to the spirits of the mountains, to the spirits of the valleys, to the 

 spirits of the East, to those of the West, to those of the North, to those of the South. 

 A libation to you, spouse X 1 To you both, may the spirits on high give you full 

 measure of happiness; likewise the spirits below! May the god Apou Ouosa load you 

 with blessings! May he protect you by day, defend you during the night! May there 

 come to you abundant posterity: some sons for the father, some daughters for the 

 mother. May the sons live 99 years and the daughters 77, and may such posterity 

 continue for 1,100 years! Protection by day, watchfulness by night! To you two, when 

 you shall spend the day on the mountain and should the evil spirit come, may the evil 

 one fly away! If the evil spirit comes, may it fly away! When the newly married hus- 

 band shall enteror leave his house, if the evil one seeks to accompany him, may he be 

 powerless, may he fly away! If it be that evil spirit X., may it fly away; if the evil 

 spirit M., may it fly away; if the evil spirit N., may it fly away! If the newly mar- 

 ried spouse goes into the village and the demon of the thickets should come toward 

 her, may it fly away! If it be the chief of devils, may he flee! May the witches hence- 

 forth vanish! May evil omens cease! Away misfortune! Away sickness! You two 

 married ones in your white old age, may you have youth with teeth complete ! May 



