124 DISCOVERIES OP THE PORTUGUESE. 
to be engaged in magical practices, ran home and 
beat them without intermission, till they agreed 
to come and make confession before the priest. 
One custom, which seems peculiar to this coun- 
try, was the mode in which marriage was contract- 
ed. Before forming any permanent engagement, 
the two parties lived for some time with each 
other, in order to make trial how far their tempers 
and inclinations agreed ; during which interval, 
either party might, without the smallest reproach, 
dissolve the connection. The abolition of this sys- 
tem of trial, proved the hardest task which the 
missionaries had to encounter. In vain did they 
urge, that if their companions were agreeable, they 
ought at once to marry, or if disagreeable, to sepa- 
rate from them. A little longer time was still 
asked before a final resolution. Merolla complains, 
with peculiar bitterness, that the females were al- 
ways the most determined upon having the bene- 
fit of this trial, and the most difficult to satisfy as 
to the result. All direct remonstrances having 
proved fruitless, he bethought himself of acting 
upon them through the medium of the mothers. 
Being, therefore, sent for to confess one, whose 
daughter he knew to be under trial, he positively 
refused absolution, until she had compelled the 
young lady to marry. The mother declared, that 
she would by no means hazard incurring her 
daughter's curse, by obliging her to form such an 
