MAKRIAGE CUSTOMS OP THE SIKHIMESE. 55 



MARRIAGE CUSTOMS OF THE SIKHIMESE.* 



[These customs have been gathered from actual observation, and are the customs now 

 observed amongst the Bhuteas.] 



If the eldest brother takes a wife, she is common to all his brothers. 



If the second brother takes a wife, she is common to all the 

 brothers younger than himself. 



The eldest brother is not allowed to cohabit with the wives of the 

 younger brothers. 



Should there be children in the first case, the children are named 

 after the eldest brother, whom they call father. 



In case 2, after the second brother, &c. 



Three brothers can marry three sisters, and all the wives be in 

 common, but this case is not very often seen. In such a case the 

 children of the eldest girl belong to the eldest brother, &c., if they 

 each bear children. Should one or more not bear children, then the 

 children are apportioned by arrangement. Two men not related can 

 have one wife in common, but this arrangement is unusual. 



A man occasionally lends his wife to a friend, but the custom is not 

 general and uncommon. 



If a girl becomes pregnant before marriage and afterwards marries 

 the father of the child, the child is considered legitimate, but the man 

 is fined a bull or its equivalent, which go to her relatives. Should the 

 man by whom the girl was made pregnant not marry her, and should 

 she afterwards marry another, the child remains with the woman's 

 brothers or relatives. A woman is not considered dishonoured by 

 having a child before marriage. 



The marriage ceremony consists almost entirely in feasting, which 

 takes place after the usual presents have been given to the giiTs 

 relations. These presents constitute the woman's price, and vary in 

 accordance with the circumstances of both parties. 



The only religious ceremony is performed by the village headman, 

 who offers up a bowl of marwa to the gods, and presenting a cup of the 

 same marwa to the bride and bridegroom, blesses them, and hopes the 

 union may be a fruitful one. Lamas take no part in the ceremony. 



The marriage tie is very slight, and can be dissolved at any time 

 by either the man or the woman. 



A man may marry his mother's brother's daughter, but he can 

 marry none of his other first cousins till the second generation. Their 

 system of relationship is peculiar and interesting, and is given below. 



• Sikhim, Tibetans and Bhutanese. 



