240 THE NICOBARESE 



Sometimes the girl makes the path of courtship less easy, by- 

 changing her sleeping-hut from night to night. This difficulty 

 the lover generally overcomes by employing small boys to follow 

 her about and inform him of her resting-place. 



Occasionally the man, following the girl home at night after a 

 dance, etc., will meet with an attempt at resistance on the part of 

 the other women dwelling there, when he essays to enter the house 

 she has chosen.* 



A man wishing to escape the consequences of marriage, and 

 thinking he was unrecognised in the darkness by others during 

 his intercourse with the girl, will nearly always be identified by 

 some of the women present. If he refuses to carry out his share 

 of the contract, a council is called of the principal men of his 

 village, and they fine him so many pigs, which form the material 

 for a general feast 



In the northern islands, the " Town Halls " in the Elpanams 

 are the property of the community in general, for they are the 

 work of the whole village. The products of the forest are common 

 to all, but it is now necessary to obtain the headman's permission 

 before occupying a piece of land near the village, to build a house 

 or make a garden on. 



Everything which the village as a whole makes or purchases, 

 as the Elpanam houses or Chaura canoes, is common property, 

 but the result of individual work belongs to the individual. 

 Plantations, coconuts,! canoes, and houses, are private possessions, 

 liable, however, to family claims founded on common family work. 



to visit her. The parents are, of course, aware that their daughter is receiving 

 a visitor, and are indeed proud that she should be thus so sought after ; but at 

 the same time they warn her to be cautious. The lover departs again before 

 daybreak, in order that there may be no gossip in the village about their 

 engagement until all is settled. These visits extend over some weeks, and at 

 last one morning he remains until the day has broken, as a sign that the 

 engagement may be formally announced." 



* Cf. Malay custom during the marriage ceremony, of the bride's female 

 friends trying to prevent the entrance of the bridegroom and his companions. 



+ In some places in the south it is said that coconut plantations are held 

 in common by all in the village. 



