116 



shrieks/ which are far from being serious. In 

 this manner she is conducted with much noise to 

 the house of her husband, where her relations 

 are assembled, and receive the presents agreed 

 upooj after having partaken of the nuptial enter- 

 tainment. Of course, the expenses of an Arau- 

 canian wedding are by no means inconsiderable, 

 from whence it happens that the rich alone can 

 maintain any considerable number of wives. 

 The poor content themselves with one or two at 

 most. Nor does there arise any inconvenience 

 from the scarcity of women, as the number of 

 females is much greater than the males, which 

 is always the case in those countries where po- 

 lygamy is permitted. 



The first wife, who is called unendomo , is 

 always respected as the real and legitimate one 

 by all the others, who are called inandomo, or 

 secondary wives. She has the management of 

 the domestic concerns, and regulates the interior 

 of the house. The husband has much to do to 

 maintain harmony among so many women, w ho 

 are not a little inclined to jealousy, and each 

 night at supper makes known his choice of her 

 who is to have the honour of sharing his bed, 

 by directing her to prepare it. The others sleep 

 in the same room, and no one is permitted to 

 approach them. Strangers, on their arri\al, are 

 lodged in a cabin entirely separate from this 

 seraglio. 



