BECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS. 683 



according to Azara, divorce is quite optional. Among the 

 Abipones, a man on choosing a wife bargains with the parents 

 about the price. But " it frequently happens that the girl 

 rescinds what has been agreed upon between the parents 

 and the bridegroom, obstinately rejecting the very men- 

 tion of marriage. ^^ She often runs away, hides herself and 

 thus eludes the bridegroom. Capt. Musters, who lived with 

 the Patagonians, says that their marriages are always 

 settled by inclination; *^ if the parents make a match con- 

 trary to the daughter's will, she refuses and is never com- 

 pelled to comply. '^ In Terra del Fuego a young man first 

 obtains the consent of the parents by doing them some 

 service, and then he attempts carry off the girl; ^^butif she 

 is unwilling, she hides herself in the woods until her admirer 

 is heartily tired of looking for her and gives up the pur- 

 suit; but this seldom happens." In the Fiji Islands the 

 man seizes on the woman whom he wishes for his wife by 

 actual or pretended force; but '^ on reaching the home of 

 her abductor, should she not approve of the match, she 

 runs to some one who can protect her; if, however, she is 

 satisfied, the matter is settled forthwith. '^ With the Kal- 

 mucks there is a regular race between the bride and bride- 

 groom, the former having a fair start; and Clarke '* was 

 assured that no instance occurs of a girl being caught, 

 unless she has a partiality to the pursuer." Among the 

 wild tribes of the Malay Archipelago there is also a racing 

 match; and it appears from M. Bourien's account, as Sir 

 J. Lubbock remarks, that *^the race ^is not to the swift, 

 nor the battle to the strong,' but to the young man who 

 has the good fortune to please his intended bride." A sim- 

 ilar custom, with the same result, prevails with the Korarks 

 of Northeastern Asia. 



Turning to Africa the Kafirs buy their wives, and girls 

 are severely beaten by their fathers if they will not accept 

 a chosen husband; but it is manifest from many facts given 

 by the Rev. Mr. Shooter, that they have considerable 

 power of choice. Thus, very ugly, though rich men, have 

 been known to fail in getting wives. The girls, before con- 

 senting to be betrothed, compel the men to show them- 

 selves off first in front and then behind, and ^' exhibit their 

 paces." They have been known to propose to a man, and 

 they not rarely run away with a favored lover. So, again, 

 Mr. Leslie, who was intimately acquainted with the Kafirs, 



