iwr.EE] RIGOROUS MAKITAL REGULATIONS 281* 



the character of the luau; in very fact, it at the same time both meas- 

 ures aud makes the character of the womau. Among other privileges 

 bestowed ou the bride during the probationary period are those of 

 receiving the most iutimate attentions from the clanfellows of the 

 groom; and these are noteworthy as suggestions of a vestigial polyan- 

 dry or adelphogamy. At the close of the year the probation ends in a 

 feast pi-ovided by tlie probationer, who thereui)on enters the bride's 

 jacal as a i»erpetual guest of unlimited personal privileges (subject to 

 tribal custom); while the bride passes from a half- wanton heyday into 

 the duller routine of matronly existence. 



These details were elicited at Costa Rica in 1894 through methodical 

 inquiries made in connection with the linguistic collection. This col- 

 lection was made with the cooperation of Senor Alvemar-Leou as Span- 

 ish-English interpreter, together with Mashem and (commonly) the 

 claumother known as Juaua Maria. Usually quite a group of Seri 

 matrons with two or three warriors were gathered about, and to these 

 Mashem frequently appealed for advice and verification, while they con- 

 stantly expressed approval or disapproval of questions and replies, as 

 gathered through Mashem's words and mien, in such manner as to 

 afibrd a fair index of their habitual thought — e. g., when the Seri ver- 

 nacular for "twins" was obtained and the inquiry was extended (by 

 normal association of ideas) to the term for " triplets ", Mashem col- 

 lapsed into moody silence while the rest of the group decami)ed inconti- 

 nently with horror-stricken countenances — thereby sugge.stiug cautious 

 subsequent inquiry, and the discovery that triplets ai-e deemed evil 

 monsters aud their production a capital crime. It was in one of the 

 earlier conferences that the tii'st intimations concerning the unusual 

 marital customs were incidentally brought out; the Caucasion interjire- 

 ter and bystanders were diverted by the naive reference to the moral 

 test, but their expressions were hastily checked lest the native inform- 

 ants might be startled and rendered secretive; then, during two later 

 conferences, when Mashem and several matrons were freely participat- 

 ing in the proceedings, the line of inquiry was so turned as to touch on 

 various aspects of the marriage custom aud bring out all essential fea- 

 tures ; so that much contideuce is reposed iu the accuracy of the details.' 

 The confidence in the verity of the customs was such as not to be 

 impaired seriously by the fact that no records of coincident moral tests 

 were known in the voluminous literature of marriage aud its concomi- 

 tants; nor was it shaken by the still weightier fact that none of the 

 experienced ethnologists to whom inquiries were addressed during 

 ensuing months were acquainted with parallel customs — indeed the only 

 shadow of corroboration thus obtained came in the form of references 

 to the widespread requirement of continence iu war and ceremonies, 



• It may be observed that Koliisio, when Tisiterl in January, 1896, failed to corroborate the descrip- 

 tioDs of Maah^'m and tlie raatroii.s ; but bia failure occasioned littU* surprise for the reason that he has 

 not lived with his tribe since early boybond, and is equally uuiuformed (or uucommunicative) cou- 

 cerniug the myths, ceremonies, aud eveu the totems of the tribe. 



