MARITAL JEALOUSY 149 



that which is enforced." A chief sometimes gave up 

 the women of a town to a company of visitors or 

 warriors. Compliance was compulsory ; but the wives 

 were required to disclose it to their husbands, other- 

 wise they would be punished. 1 



In the northern New Hebrides, during the cere- 

 monies of initiation into the secret society of the Qatu, 

 "if the women assemble, as they do, to hear the 

 singing in the enclosure where the neophytes are 

 being taught it is an allowed custom for men to carry 

 them off and ravish them." 2 It may be said that this is 

 punishment for prying ; but if the object were to 

 prevent prying greater care would be taken, as among 

 the Australian natives, to keep the women at a 

 distance. It seems rather to be part of the proceedings. 

 As such it must be well known to the women and does 

 not deter them. In the Wainimala District of Viti 

 Levu, Fiji, fatherright prevails. A secret society (ac- 

 cording to another account two secret societies) existed 

 until a few years ago, into which the youths were 

 initiated with elaborate ceremonies. At one stage in 

 the proceedings the women were summoned and 

 entered the nanga, or sacred enclosure, which was at 

 all other times forbidden to them. They entered on 

 all fours, and after a short ceremony by the chief 

 priest, returned in the same way. As soon as they 

 emerged from the nanga the men, who had been 

 hitherto concealed, rushed upon them with a sudden 

 yell, and an indescribable scene ensued. " All my 

 informants agree," says Dr. Fison, "in stating that 

 the men and women address one another in the 

 filthiest language, using expressions which would be 

 1 Williams, Fiji, 115, 147, 2 Codrington 87, 



