THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



southern islands; throughout the archipelago there is great variety of character, language, 

 aud complexion. Thus, the people of Aoba, or Lepers' Island, seem to be true Polynesians, 

 with nearly straight hair and a light complexion, but as a rule the natives of the New Hebrides 

 are dark and woolly-haired, although probably not pure Papuans. 



In the northern islands of the group only the chiefs, or other great and important 

 people, betroth their children in youth. A betrothed girl lives in the same house as her 

 future husband, who very often is taught to regard the little plaything as his sister. Girls 

 assume the petticoat when they arrive at marriageable age. On the wedding day guests 

 arrive in large numbers to enjoy the good things provided for them. The bridegroom fixes 

 the branch of a tree, or shrub, in the ground, and brings forward gifts of pigs, food, and 



Photo by Caiitain 11'. AclunJ, II. X. 



WOMEN AT MOTA ISLAND, NEW HEBRIDES. 



nuts. The bride's father, or some special friend of the family, makes a speech, and exhorts 

 the bridegroom to feed his wife properly and treat her kindly. With such and similar 

 admonitions he hands over, or "gives away," the bride, gaily attired and wearing her new 

 petticoat. At the feast which follows the bridegroom is spared the trying ordeal of making 

 a speech; he merely strokes his father-in-law to show his gratitude and affection. Then 

 follows a sham fight, in which it sometimes happens that men are wounded. On one side 

 are ranged the bride's kinsmen, on the other those of the bridegroom. Should a brother 

 of the latter be injured, " compensation," in the form of a present, is required. When the 

 family of the bride consider that they have made enough show of resistance, to prove how 

 highly they value her services, they allow her to be taken away. Accordingly she is dragged 

 off by female friends to the bridegroom's house. Even if the poor child is willing to leave 



