THE KINGS MILL ISLANDERS. 107 



on their heads a little cocoanut-oil ; he then takes a branch of a tree, 

 dips it in water, and sprinkles their faces, at the same time making a 

 prayer for their future happiness and prosperity. Food is now placed 

 on the mat between them, usually a particular kind of fish, with 

 bread-fruit and taro, which they eat together. They are now con- 

 sidered as married, and the friends and relatives throng around them 

 to offer their congratulations and rub noses. The feast then begins, 

 and is continued till evening, when a fire is lighted in the open air, 

 and dancing takes place. This festival is continued for several days ; 

 on the evening of the third day, the bridegroom takes his wife home. 



For ten days after the marriage, the house in which the bride lives 

 is screened with mats, and she does not go out of it, but remains at 

 home to receive her friends. When the wife is eight months enceinte 

 for the first time, the friends and relatives of the husband prepare 

 provisions and mats; those of the wife, provisions also, with iriris 

 and oil. These are all taken to an amata, a house without a loft, 

 of which there are several in each town, for the convenience of such 

 assemblies. The two parties sit on opposite sides of the house, with 

 their property ; two men, one from each side, stand up in the middle, 

 and proceed to exchange the mats for iriris and the oil ; the provisions 

 of one side for those of the other. The exchange is made with great 

 care, so that each receives an equivalent. When this is finished, 

 the parties gather up their exchanges and retire, leaving the married 

 couple, whose presence was deemed necessary to sanction the sale, 

 no better off than before. This custom is called katiro, and is often 

 resorted to for making exchanges, on ordinary occasions. 



Children are often betrothed at an early age, sometimes as soon as 

 born, in which case the ceremony of marriage is not deemed neces- 

 sary. Polygamy, as before observed, is allowed to any extent, and 

 limited only by the ability of the person to support his wives. On 

 Makin, no marriage ceremony takes place, for every female child is 

 betrothed as soon as born, usually to some near relative, who takes 

 her to his house at whatever age he may think proper ; and those who 

 are not so betrothed remain all their lives unmarried, forming tempo- 

 rary connexions with the young men who are similarly situated. Of 

 the latter there are great numbers, owing to the majority of the women 

 being monopolized by the wealthy and powerful, to whom this custom 

 affords every facility for obtaining wives. This state of things brings 

 about, as is naturally to be expected, many intrigues and squabbles. 



