300 . 
310 . 
320 . 
330 . 
A NANING RECITAL. 19 
A white fowl flies by day. 
Flies and alights on the gable edge. 
With anklets of ivory, 
Flitting about a spacious court. 
The pride of a wide demesne, 
Fit queen for a goodly house ! 
A black fowl flies by night, 
And alights on the screw-pine clump, 
His croak is heard, but lie is not seen. 
A single twist of linen white 
Will serve to make a bucket-string: 
Unsought they met their troth to plight — 
Curse on the stream meandering !( 29 ) 
Homage, 0 Chief ! 
And after that is said this saying 
Of the Four Tribes and the Lesser Eight: 
First the tie of the kin, 
Second the tie of the custom. 
Third the tie of the wedlock : 
The tie of the kin may not be severed, 
The tie of the custom may not be changed. 
The tie of the wedlock may not be marred. 
And so it was, that 
Custom set no bar, 
Eeligion set no ban, 
To this marrying and giving in marriage, 
Without blemish and without stain. 
A bond was made and proclaimed, 
A bond due is fulfilled : 
And therefore come I now. 
Like a harrow that harrows amiss, 
Like a street of little traffic, 
I come to fulfil the bond, 
I pay the bride-price, 
I bring the bridegroom my kinsman. ( 30 ) 
My tale is told. 
Homage, O Chief! 
The worth of 
the Bride. 
And the un- 
worthiness of 
the Bride- 
groom. 
The Wedding 
Guest now 
recites the 
Marriage 
Custom. 
And tells of 
the making 
of the mar- 
riage bond to 
fulfil which 
he (all un- 
worthy) is 
now come. 
II. A. Soc., No. 83, 1921. 
