78 SEX-LORE 



Leah instead, and had to serve another seven for 

 Rachel; she was, however, given to him in advance. 

 In some cases it is only when the man cannot pay for 

 his bride that he has to serve for her; but there are 

 tribes among whom no payment can replace service. 

 It is generally the first wife that is obtained in this 

 manner; the others are purchased. This form of 

 marriage occurs also simultaneously with marriage 

 by purchase. 



The custom of purchasing a wife exists, or has ex- 

 isted, among many peoples in various stages of pro- 

 gress. Usually the amount to be paid is arranged 

 between the parties, but sometimes it is established 

 by custom. The price varies in many ways. Often 

 it is considered to be payment to the parents for the 

 girl's services and the cost of her upbringing. The 

 beauty and health of a girl comes into consideration, 

 as does also her social rank. In British Columbia and 

 Vancouver the value of the articles given for a bride 

 ranges from twenty to forty pound sterling. From 

 two to thirty cows will buy a wife among the Kaffirs. 

 In Uganda the price is either three to four bullocks, 

 six sewing-needles, or a small box of percussion-caps. 

 The chief Maino in the Torres Straits told Dr. 

 Haddon that he paid for his wife " a camphor-wood 

 chest, with seven bolts of calico, one dozen shirts, 

 one dozen singlets, one dozen trousers, one dozen 

 handkerchiefs, two dozen tomahawks, one dozen 

 hooks, two fish-lines, one long fish-spear, one pound 

 of tobacco, two pearl shells, and ' by golly he too 

 dear !" At the beginning of the last century the high 

 purchase price for a bride in Serbia made it impossible 

 for many a poor fellow to marry at all. In addition 



