COURTSHIP IN MAN 39 



hood of water it is the expert diver that stands the 

 first chance with a girl or her parents. In other 

 regions it is the man most skilled in throwing and 

 catching spears. At one time among a tribe living 

 south of China, it is said to have been customary to 

 give honour to the greatest thief, and it was he that 

 had the pick of the girls. Amongst some warlike 

 races a man cannot marry at all, u*hless he can bring 

 home the head of a slain enemy; whilst the man who 

 brings the most heads has the best choice among the 

 girls. What a gruesome manner of courtship ! Yet 

 naturally, in primitive society, such a husband would 

 be the most capable of defence. 



Duels and wrestling matches also play a prominent 

 part in the game of human courtship ; and, as in the 

 animal combats, it is the victor that carries off the 

 prize. A curious custom was resorted to by one 

 tribe in New Zealand. "When the girl had two 

 suitors, a pulling match was arranged in which the 

 girl's arms were dragged by each suitor in opposite 

 directions, the stronger man being the victor." In 

 this it was the girl that was the sufferer; but there are 

 cases when it is the male lover that has cheerfully to 

 endure suffering for the sake of his love, as, for in- 

 stance, in the following primitive example among the 

 Dongolowees: " The girl sits with a knife tied to each 

 forearm, so fixed that the blade projects below the 

 elbow. She then takes up a position on a log of 

 wood, the young men sitting on either side with their 

 legs closely pressed against hers. Raising her arms, 

 the girl leans forward and slowly presses the knives 

 into the thighs of the would-be husbands. The suitor 

 who best undergoes this trial of endurance wins the 



