92 CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 
sented to the parents. The acceptance of these signifies that the suit 
is favourably received; their rejection is a refusal of the suit. 
If the proposals of the young man are received, he gives notice of it 
to his own relations, who take presents to his betrothed. Her own 
relations, by way of dowry, give her a stone-chopper (matawiwi) and 
two tapa-sticks (eki), after which the marriage may take place. 
Among the common people the marriage rites are less ceremonious 
than those of the chiefs. The priest of the tribe comes to the house, 
when he is presented with a whale’s tooth and a bowl of ava, and 
making a sevu-sevu (prayer), invokes happiness upon the union. The 
bride’s near relations then present her with a large petticoat (licolib), 
and the more distant relatives make gifts of tapas, mats, and provisions. 
Every man may have as many wives as he can maintain, and the 
chiefs have many betrothed to them at an early age, for the purpose 
of extending their political connexions by bonds which, according to 
their customs, cannot be overlooked. 
The daughters of chiefs are usually betrothed early in life. If the 
bridegroom refuses to carry the contract into effect, it is considered 
as a great insult, and he may lay his account to have a contest with 
her relations and friends. If the betrothed husband die before the 
girl grows up, his next brother succeeds to his rights in this respect. 
Many of the marriages in high life are the result of mutual attachment, 
and are preceded by a courtship, presents, &c. The parties may be 
frequently seen, as among us, walking arm-in-arm after they are 
engaged. Forced marriages sometimes occur, although they are by 
no means frequent in this class; in such instances suicide is occasion- 
ally the consequence. <A case of this sort had occurred previous to 
our arrival, when a daughter of the chief of Ovolau killed herself by 
jumping off a precipice behind the town, because she had been forced 
to marry a brother of Tanoa. The females of the lower classes have 
no such delicate scruples. Among them, marriages are mere matters 
of bargain, and wives are purchased and looked upon as property in 
most parts of the group. The usual price is a whale’s tooth, or a 
musket; and this once paid, the husband has an entire right to the 
person of the wife, whom he may even kill and eat if he feel so dis- 
posed. Young women, until purchased, belong to the chief of the 
village, who may dispose of them as he thinks best. Elopements, how- 
ever, sometimes take place, when a marriage is opposed from difference 
of rank or other cause, when the parties flee to some neighbouring 
chief, whom they engage to intercede and bring about a reconciliation. 
Wives are faithful to their husbands rather from fear than from 
