1866. Social Customs &c. of the Karens. 19 
relation is considered as undesirably remote. Beyond third cousins 
marriages are prohibited. 
CHASTITY. 
Among the Red Karens, chastity, both with married and unmarried: 
is reported as remarkably loose. The commerce of the sexes among 
young people is defended as nothing wrong, because ‘‘it is our custom.’’ 
The Sau-bwakepho has a regular rule to give six rupees damages in 
cases of rape ; but these are the only cases of crim. con. that he enter- 
tains in his courts. 
Chastity is cultivated, however, by the other Karen tribes; and one 
means by which it is preserved, is early marriages. The great majo- 
rity are married soon after the age of puberty. Still, while the young 
people are as chaste as most people in Christian nations, lapses among 
the married are not uncommon; but illegitimate children are very 
rare. 
The Sgaus at least are not wanting in good precepts, notwithstand- 
ing, for a contrary course. The Hlders say : 
“’O children and grandchildren ! do not commit adultery, or forni- 
cation, with the child or wife of another ; for the Righteous One looks 
down from above, and these things are exposed to him, Those that 
do thus, will go to hell. 
“Tf you meet the wife of another, avoid her, and pass on the lower 
side of the road.” 
Though the Bghais do not appear to have precisely the same form 
of command, yet they regard adultery as particularly offensive to God, 
and as being the cause sometimes of bad crops. 
Human nature is the same everywhere, and the betrothal of child- 
ren in infancy often results in unhappy marriages, and unfaithtulness 
to the marriage tie. 
Sometimes the parties, on becoming of marriageable age, so dislike 
each other, that they rebel against the authority of the Hlders, and 
form connections for themselves more congenial to their tastes. 
PoLyGamy. 
Polygamy is neither permitted nor practiced by any of the Karen 
tribes; but Karens who live in the neighbourhood of the Burmese 
