THE SOCIAL SYSTEM ^^ 



misconduct, desertion, incompatibility of temper 

 and family quarrels ; or a couple may terminate 

 their state of wedlock by mutual consent on pay- 

 ment of a moderate fine to the chief. Such separa- 

 tion by mutual consent is occasioned not infrequently 

 by the sterility of the marriage, especially if the 

 couple fails to obtain a child for adoption ; the 

 parties hope to procure offspring by taking new 

 partners ; for the desire for children and pride and 

 joy in the possession of them are strongly felt by 

 all. The husband of a sterile wife may leave the 

 house for a long period, living in the jungle and 

 visiting other houses, in the hope that his wife 

 may divorce him on the ground of desertion, or 

 give him ground for divorcing her. On discovery 

 of misconduct on the woman's part the husband 

 will usually divorce her ; the man then retains all 

 property accumulated since the marriage, and the 

 children are divided between the parents. The 

 co-respondent and respondent are fined by the 

 chief, and half the amount of the fine goes to the 

 injured husband. Misconduct on the part of the 

 man must be flagrant before it constitutes a sufficient 

 ground for his divorce by his wife. In this case the 

 same rules are followed. Among the Kayans the 

 divorce is not infrequently followed by a reconcilia- 

 tion brought about by the intervention of friends ; 

 the parties then come together again without further 

 ceremony. There is little formality about the 

 divorce procedure. In the main it takes the form 

 of separation by mutual consent and the condona- 

 tion of the irregularity by the community on the 

 payment of a fine to the chief. 



Adoption 



Adoption is by no means uncommon. The 

 desire for children, especially male children, is 



