6fi AN ACCOUNT OF THE WILD TIUBES 



woliiau presents also some ^(iib lo her in- 

 tended. Then the bride is delivered by her 

 father to llie bridegroom, and tlie solem- 

 nity of the wedding begins. Some other 

 stales that amongst some tribes tliere is a 

 dance in ilie midst of which ilie bride elect 

 ilaris olf into the forest » followed bv tlie 

 bridegroom. A chase cnsnes, during; which , 

 sliould tlie youtJi fall down, or return un- 

 successful , he is met witli tlie jeei s and mer- 

 riinenls of the whole party, and the match 

 is declar ed oit This story was related to nie 

 a little diHerentiy b\ a European wbo iti- 

 habited Pabang many years. During the 

 banquet a large fire is kindled, all the 

 congregation standing as witnesses; the 

 bride runs round the fire; the bridegroom 

 wbo must run in the same direction, fol- 

 lows her; if he catches her, tlie marriage 

 is valid; il' lie cannot it is declared olf. All 

 the Jakuns 1 (piestioned on tlie point de- 

 clared to me thai they were itotat all aware 



