RISE OF FATHERRIGHT 15 



wandering Tipperah, or as they call themselves Mrung, 

 of Bengal. When a match is " made with the consent 

 of the parents the young man has to serve three years 

 in his father-in-law's house before he obtains his wife or 

 is formally married. During the period of probation 

 his sweetheart is to all intents and purposes awife to him. 

 On the wedding night, however, the bridegroom has 

 to sleep with his wife surreptitiously, entering the 

 house by stealth and leaving it before dawn. He then 

 absents himself for four days, during which time he 

 makes a round of visits among all his friends. On the 

 fourth day he is escorted back with great ceremony, 

 and has to give another feast to his cortege" 1 



The Yakuts at present reckon descent through the 

 father ; but there are indications in language in tra- 

 dition and in existing customs of a more archaic stage. 

 Among such indications is the rule that a bride is not 

 given to her husband immediately after the marriage, 

 even though the bride-price which is always exacted 

 may have been paid. She is retained at home either 

 under pretence of getting ready her outfit or of her 

 youth and inexperience, formerly for four or five years, 

 but now for somewhat less. Meanwhile the bride- 

 groom visits her from time to time, bringing in his 

 hand a substantial present to her parents. If the 

 bride-price have been paid he is sometimes admitted 

 to reside with her in her parents' home. 2 The Yakuts 

 are polygamous ; and a man who is obliged to make 

 frequent journeys has a wife in every place. 3 The 

 custom of the Aleutian islanders is to marry a girl 

 from another village. After marriage the bride 



i Risley, Tribes, ii. 325. 2 /. A. I. xxxi. 84, 80, 83. 



* Potter, 138, quoting de Lesseps. Cf. J. A. I. xxxi. 94. 



