1866.] Social Customs dsc. 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 Elders say : 



" 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. 



" If 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 unfaithfulness 

 to the marriage tie. 



Sometimes the parties, on becoming of marriageable age, so dislike 

 each other, that they rebel against the authority of the Elders, 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 



