50 PRIMITIVE PATERNITY 



They remain there two days, and returning to the 

 bridegroom's house they spend another night together, 

 after which the bride goes back to her parents and only 

 installs herself permanently in her husband's domicile 

 when pregnancy becomes evident. 1 Among the various 

 Man tribes the bridegroom passes an avowedly proba- 

 tionary period in the bride's house. The period ex- 

 acted by the Man Tien is a month. After this the 

 formal wedding takes place. The young couple first 

 drink rice-spirit together and .worship the bride's 

 ancestors, then proceeding to the bridegroom's home 

 drink together and worship his ancestors. The bride 

 is formally presented to the bridegroom's relatives, 

 with whom they remain. 2 The Man Quan Trang 

 require a much longer residence of the bridegroom in 

 the bride's home. Formerly it was for six years ; even 

 now it is for three, unless redeemed by payment. It 

 begins when the youths are about twenty years of age 

 and the girls fourteen. No sexual relations ought to 

 take place between them during this period ; but in 

 reality such relations always exist without much 

 importance being attached to them, unless pregnancy 

 result. In this case the lovers are definitely united 

 and neither party can afterwards withdraw. So long 

 as pregnancy does not happen the youth can withdraw 

 without paying anything ; but if the girl's parents alter 

 their minds they must pay him an indemnity for the 

 services he has rendered in their house. After the 

 formal marriage the young couple must work for seven 

 years in the husband's paternal home before being 

 able to settle elsewhere. In this way it is said the parents 

 of both are remunerated for the care bestowed on their 

 1 Lunet 329. 2 Id. 257. 



