561 



really do not know — and must not know — what is going on, 

 or whether they more or less admittedly wink at the pro- 

 ceedings. I should be inclined to think the latter. Anyhow, 

 even in the case of detection there would be no punishment 

 for the offenders, though some fuss and a bit of abuse might 

 make the next evening unpleasant. The thing is, or ought 

 to be, kept a secret from the other boys of the village, only 

 the nearest friend (Gaidi) or friends of the man concerned 

 being in the confidence. 



Kissing was, of course, not known by the natives of 

 Mailu before the white man's advent. I was told, however, 

 that the younger generation Ijave acquired that habit from 

 the Europeans, and that they seem rather to appreciate it. 

 The usual form of flirting was for the boy to sit close to his 

 sweetheart, holding her hand or her breast, and talking in 

 undertones. (35) 



It is very characteristic — and the emphatic consensus of 

 all my informants leaves no doubt on the point — that in 

 cases when the young man has serious matrimonial plans 

 there is no sexual intercourse between the two. In that case 

 the two spend the evening, often late into the night, merely 

 talking. On the other hand, if the boy does not want to 

 marry the girl, intercourse takes place, though even in such 

 a case matrimony may evolve in the course of time. Anyhow, 

 I was assured that the boy not unfrequently plans and sug- 

 gests m^arriage when the first rendezvous is appointed, and 

 that in such a case he would not make any sexual advances. ^36) 



Moreover, the boy would not pronounce the name of his 

 fiancee in addressing her, which interdiction obtains also 

 between husband and wife. 



(35) Aimong the Motu the right conventional attitude whilst 

 courting was for the boy to sit on the knees of his mistress 

 (Sihari). 



^36) This version is confirmed by the identical state of things 

 to be found among the Motu, Koito, and SinaufihoJo. The boy 

 would never cohabit with his sweetheart if she was betrothed to 

 him by the Mdo-heni (Motu language) form of marriage (this 

 form of marriage is called in Sinaugholo, Kilakau). If originally 

 he did not overtly declare his matrimonial intentions, a boy might 

 have an intrigue with his mistress (Motu, Sihdri; Koita, Sivdri; 

 Sinaugholo, Kologhdna). He could in course of time make up his 

 mind and marrj^ her, in vrhich case the marriage form is called in 

 Motu, Herdhe ; in Koita, Iriri; in Sinaugholo, Vega' ra-ghorema. 

 At any rate, the fact that the time of engagement is free from 

 prenuptial intercourse stands above doubt in these tribes as well 

 as in the Mailu. I had exceptionally good information on this 

 point in the Sinaugholo, as I was admitted into the confidence of 

 a smart and fast set of Ligo young men, who discussed matters 

 among themselves and told their experiences in my presence in 

 Motu, which they all speak as a second mother-tongue. 



