16 Social Customs of the Karens. [No. 1, 



When the work of the go-between is done, the friends of the young 

 man take a hog, an ox, or a buffalo, according to their circumstances, 

 and, leading it to the dwelling of the parents of the girl, they kill it 

 and examine its gall bladder. If the bladder is full, they say the 

 omen is favourable to the union ; but if flaccid, containing little liquid, 

 it is deemed unfavourable. Still, a feast is made, but it is eaten in 

 sadness, and the people murmur, " If they are married, they will have 

 no children ; they will be unsuccessful in their undertakings, and they 

 will die young." Sometimes the marriage is broken off, and sometimes 

 it proceeds. 



If the gall bladder be plump, there is great rejoicing, and all say, 

 the couple will live to old age, and have a numerous posterity. Be- 

 fore partaking of the feast, an Elder takes a bit of the liver and viscera 

 of the animal together with boiled rice on a plate, and, pouring them 

 out on to the earth, prays ; " Lord of the heavens and earth, Lord of 

 the lofty mountains and high hills, we give thee food and drink. 

 May these two persons prosper and be successful, may they have a 

 posterity, may they live to old age, that they may bring up sons and 

 daughters." After the prayer, the elders eat, and then all the people 

 eat after them. After eating, they drink spirits, beat kyee-zees, 

 dance, and sing songs. 



After this engagement feast, sometimes the marriage takes place in 

 a few days, # but frequently, for various reasons, it is delayed for a con- 

 siderable period, sometimes for years ; and when the delay is protract- 

 ed, it is not uncommon for the engagement to be broken off. 



Should the girl refuse to fulfil her contract, she must pay all the 

 expenses of the engagement feast with interest. " If a hog was killed, 

 she must repay a buffalo. If a horse was offered, she must repay an 

 elephant ; and there is the shame besides." 



These exaggerated demands are never exacted to the letter. In 

 general terms it is said : " If a man breaks his engagement, he loses 

 his outlay ; if a girl breaks her engagement, she must pay a fine." 



If a young man wishes to break the engagement, he publicly de- 

 clares that he will sacrifice all the affair has cost him, and ask no 

 return : " Let the fowl be," he says, " as if the hawk had taken it. 

 Let the food I furnished the parents be as if the tiger or leopard had 

 devoured it. Let the presents I made her relatives be as if sunk in 



