.168 PRIMITIVE PATERNITY 



soil) and the Kdppiliyans (Canarese cultivators) are 

 instances in point. Among the Tottiyans, it is said, 

 the bridegroom's father takes upon himself the duty of 

 begetting children to his son. It is customary more- 

 over for the women after marriage " to cohabit with 

 their husbands' brothers and near relations and with 

 their uncles ; and so far from any disgrace attaching to 

 them in consequence their priests compel them to keep 

 up the custom if by any chance they are unwilling." 

 The morality of the women is reported in general 

 terms to be " loose." Divorce is easy and remarriage 

 freely allowed. 1 The Kappiliyans extend the man's 

 right of marriage to include his sister's daughter. 

 Quite small boys are often married to adult women. 

 Whether or not the man who -is regarded as the 

 husband's father normally supplies the husband's place, 

 it is permissible for a married woman to consort with 

 her brothers-in-law without suffering any social degrada- 

 tion. Nor need her favours be confined by any means 

 to them, so long as those favours are shared only by 

 members of the caste. As among other castes addicted 

 to similar practices children of a woman mated with an 

 infant husband are regarded as his children and inherit 

 his property, though his paternity may be impossible. 2 



1 Ind. Census, 1901, xv. 180 ; Thurston, 108. 



2 Ind. Cens. 1901, xv. 141 ; Thurston, 108. It is perhaps not irre- 

 levant to note here that the tying of the tali, or ordinary Dravidian 

 badge of marriage, is not necessarily effected among the castes 

 of Southern India by or even on behalf of the de facto husband. 

 The practice among the N&yars has already (vol. i. p. 267) been men- 

 tioned. It may be said generally that at or before puberty every girl 

 undergoes the ceremony of tying the tali. Once this is done she is 

 free to contract an alliance intended to be followed by cohabitation. 

 The ceremony by which the latter alliance is initiated is usually not 

 regarded as marriage, and bears a different name. The subject 



