HILLS jNEAR RA'JAMAHALL. 6? 



assignation soon meet again. They retire to sleep 

 together, but seldom are guilty of that indiscretion 

 which is irreparable, though the fine for such impru- 

 dent conduct, which the parties are afraid to con- 

 ceal, is a hog and a goat to the Maimgy, who sa- 

 crifices them on the spot where frailty made them 

 transgress, and sprinkles some of the blood on them, 

 to wash out the stain from his land, or rather to ap- 

 pease an incensed deity, who fails not to punish for 

 such abominations. Thus when a virgin is deflowered 

 with her consent, the blood of the offering is sup- 

 posed to atone for their sin. Should the couple agree 

 to come together as man and wife, the Maungy pro- 

 claims it ; and they are immediately considered to be 

 married, without any further ceremony or expencc. 

 The man has the option of taking her for his wife : 

 she however has the privilege of demanding a regu- 

 lar marriage, which implies the usual presents, and 

 the time for the wedding is fixed. 



Polygamy is allowed. A man may marry as 

 many wives as his circumstances will admit of; that 

 is, as often as he can defray the expences of the 

 nuptials. When he sees a girl whom he wishes to 

 espouse, he sends a friend to her parents to ask her 

 in marriage : they refer him to the lady. Should he 

 obtain her consent, he acquaints the parents, who 

 ire him to return to the suitor, to advise him of 

 their acquiescence, and that he may prepare the 

 usual presents of pookate (beads) and tubacam (a rin^ 

 for the neck) to present to the lady ; which being 

 accepted, she is considered betrothed to him; and 



he, 



