566 



■a clear distinction between the engagement fVeaniJ, when 

 marriage is in view and during which no sexual intercourse 

 takes place, and the intrigue fUi'ifi), when the two cohabit 

 without intention to marry. 



The following account refers to the marriage by betrothal, 

 and I unfortunately failed to inquire what modifications take 

 place when the second type of relationship evolves into mar- 

 riage. One thing is certain, however, namely, that the 

 conspicuous gilt, forming the substance of the marriage con- 

 tract, obtains in both modifications. 



The girls are betrothed at an age not earlier than seven 

 or eight, but usually at about fourteen or fifteen. In the 

 betrothal, in its proper form, the initiative always rests with 

 the parents, and very often the inclination of the girl plays 

 no part in the arrangement. The first agreement is accom- 

 panied by a small gift, called Od/'er/en, usually consisting 

 of some five sticks of tobacco, or, before the advent of the 

 white man, a corresponding amount of betelnut, some 

 ieathers, etc. There would also be a small feast accom- 

 panying the Odi'egeri. At the same time the previously 

 described tattooing of the girl's face is perform.ed (see sec. 1 

 of this chapter). This tattoo was a performance necessary 

 for marriage, and it is always done when a girl is betrothed ; 

 many girls, however, have their faces tattooed without being 

 promised in marriage. After the preliminary gift there is a 

 mutual exchange of food presents, in which the balance seems 

 to be maintained fairly equal on both sides. If the girl's 

 clan celebrate a Maduna (big feast) during this period, the 

 boy's father supplies the girl's father with a pig, in account 

 of the marriage gift to be paid. It may be also added that 

 such small feasts as that connected with the Odi' egeri gift are 

 usually performed in connection with a Maduno. Such a feast 

 is held before the men set out on their trading trip west to 

 fetch pigs. 



As mentioned above, both the young man and his fiancee 

 do not, as a matter of etiquette, cohabit during the time of 

 their engagement, neither must they have other intrigues; 

 a girl would even refuse to marry a boy as to whose infidelity 

 she had got positive knowledge. 



After a period of time, varying in length according to 

 the girl's age and other circumstances, the actual marriage 

 takes place. The marriage gift, in the form of pigs and some 

 articles of native wealth, may have been given during one of 

 the previous feasts, but according to native custom pigs are 

 given only at feast time. The actual marriage consists in the 

 girl's coming to the bridegroom's house and eating with him 

 — an act called Tnini daha. The girl usually brings with her 



