126 PRIMITIVE PATERNITY 



wards. Frequently a number of young men and 

 girls lived together in a large house, probably one of 

 the bachelors' houses common in the East Indies. 

 Marriage was monogamic, but divorce was easy and of 

 frequent occurrence, the children and household pro- 

 perty being always retained by the wife. If a woman 

 discovered her husband to be unfaithful, with the aid of 

 the other women of the village armed with spears he 

 was chased from the house, his growing crops were 

 destroyed, the contents of the house were appropriated 

 and the house itself sometimes pulled down. On the 

 other hand the husband had no redress against his wife 

 for her unfaithfulness though he might chastise her 

 paramour. 1 



Motherright is the rule on the islands of Leti Moa 

 and Lakor. Sexual intercourse previous to marriage 

 is free, but secret. The fidelity of the married women 

 is renowned. To speak to a married woman save 

 in her husband's presence is forbidden, and renders 

 the man who does it liable to a fine to her husband 

 her family and the chiefs. Divorce however is easy. 

 It can be obtained for the wife's adultery, or for illusage 

 on the part of the husband, or to avoid disputes. 

 A great religious festival is held yearly at the time of 

 the eastern monsoon to implore from Grandfather 

 Sun, the chief Nature Spirit, rain and plenty of food 

 and drink cattle children and riches. It lasts a 

 month. The nunu-tree is sacred. Grandfather Sun 

 comes down into it to fertilise Grandmother Earth, 

 and the people must await his coming and take part 

 in his enjoyment with dances and saturnalia. In 

 former years it was an essential part of the rite that 

 1 W. E. Safford, Amer. Anthrop. N. S. iv. 715. 



