MARRIAGES. 
349 
have no reason to be afraid. The bridegroom must deliver 
his slaves before he obtains possession of his bride^ to whom 
he also makes some little presents, besides sending her every 
day large calabashes full of rice. The two months prior to 
the nuptials form a holiday time for the bride, and the mother 
invites the neighbours to take part in the merrimaking. 
These customs undergo some modification in each country : 
at Cambaya, for example, if the bridegroom gives three slaves, 
two are for the mother-in-law, and the third follows the 
bride to the house of her husband. At Time, and at Sauibati- 
kila, the relations of the bride receive every thing. When 
the bridegroom has gone through every formality, and made 
all the requisite presents, if the betrothed, or any of her rela- 
tions, should after all refuse to conclude the marriage, they 
are obliged to indemnify him for all the expenses he has in- 
curred 3 on the contrary, if the objection be made by the 
man, whether from jealousy or any other cause, he loses all 
he has given. When, however, a discussion arises between 
the bridegroom and the family of the bride, and the match is 
in consequence broken off, every thing that the relations have 
received must be returned. Among a selfish and avaricious 
people, it is a necessary effect of these rigid regulations, that 
the first engagements are seldom dissolved. In the result 
the women are always the victims ; for the men, looking 
upon the other sex as an inferior order of beings, are always 
absolute masters in the domestic circle. Quarrels are, how- 
ever, frequent, for the husbands are extremely rigorous, and 
the wives are not very tractable. These unfortunate women 
may indeed be considered on a level with the slaves as to the 
severe labours imposed upon them. They go to distant places 
for wood and water; their husbands make them sow^ weed the 
cultivated fields, and gather in the harvest. When they 
travel with a caravan, they carry burthens on their heads, 
while the husbands proceed at their ease on horseback. The 
