256 A NATUBALI8T IN GELBBES ch. x 



numerous that it would be only wearisome to the reader if 

 I were to attempt to give a list of them. They were given 

 not only in honour of the gods and to secure good fortune in 

 war, or in more peaceful pursuits to drive away sickness and 

 secure the blessings of good health and worldly prosperity, 

 but on the opening of every new field or garden, the build- 

 ing of a new house, and, in fact, upon every occasion that 

 offered itself. Some of the feasts lasted from twelve to 

 fourteen days, and during the whole of that time all work 

 was at a standstill, and the whole population gave them- 

 selves to the dancing, singing, feasting, playing, scrambling 

 or praying that composed the fosso. 



The following account of a feast at Sondei is given in 

 the ' Life of Eiedel' (58): 



' The man who had arranged the feast was one of the 

 richest men in the country. Shortly before he had bought 

 at great cost a third wife, who was quite thirty years 

 younger than himself. Fourteen days after the weddiug- 

 feast she had run away, in order to try and gain for her 

 parents a repetition of the sum of money her husband had 

 paid for her. This had made him so angry that he had 

 struck her, and, a divorce following, he was obliged to con- 

 tent himself with his other two wives, one of whom was 

 already an elderly matron. 



'Shortly afterwards his son was killed by head- 

 hunters in the forest, and his second wife became sick unto 



death. 



' Then the walians threatened him with the anger of the 

 gods, and said that unless he gave a fosso other and greater 

 disasters would follow. 



' This he had now done to save the hfe of his second 



wife. 



' The feast was in full swing and had already lasted 



four whole days. 



