Wedlock and Wifely Duty. 127 
away in all corners of the house, and, after the men have retired, afford 
them a more abundant mfeal, 
432. Polygamy is eoninfonly indigenous among the Warraus. Every 
kWarrau takes as many wives as he can support, or rather believes to be 
necessary for looking after and attending to him. The chiefs mostly 
possess a regular harem. Wedlock takes place at a very early age, and 
I have often seen mothers who could hardly be eleven or twelve years 
of age and yet possessed children of from one to two years old. Mar- 
riage is not consecrated by any religious ceremony. The girl’s parents 
make a choice of bridegroom already of tenderest age and later on hand 
her over to him without further formality. From the day that the 
daughter is destined for him, he has to work for her parents until his 
entrance into manhood. In this interval lie showers every attention 
on his youthful bride, decorates her with beads, and brings her the best 
of what, is procurable in the chase. As he becomes a man, he takes her 
to where he thinks of building his house. When such a mutual arrange- 
ment on the part of the parents has not taken place, the young people 
follow their own inclinations. A visit «to the house of the girl of his 
choice and a few presents are the first distinctive signs of a wake mil 
or already long-clierished love. If the plans of the parenlts are in full 
agreement with the wishes of the wooers, the daughter will either become 
his for a fixed present or be handed over 'to him by the parents upon 
the fulfilment of services to be performed for them. In the latter case, 
according to the value seit upon the bride, lie has to work for a year or 
still longer for her parents. 
433. On completion of this term the young husband clears from bush 
and 'trees a sufficient piece of land, and hands it over to (the young- 
woman as her provision field which she now further cultivates and tills. 
The man acquires his second, third, and fourth wife by means of gifts. 
When the wife gets old, and this usually 'takes place already by the twen- 
tieth year, the husband looks for another among the little girls of seven 
to eight years of age: he hands this child to his eldest wife to bring up, 
and the latter teaches her everything in the way of domestic duties until 
she arrives at majturity, when she enters upon all the rights and duties 
of the marriage state. But whatever number of wives a Warrau may 
possess, yet the one first taken unmistakeably sways the sceptre before 
which all her successors have to bow in matters of domestic concern. 
The house-master usually has one or two favourite wives whom he never 
lets away from his side but who accompany him on all his excursions. 
434. Outside of hunting, fishing, and the manufacture of his 
weapons and corials, the man considers every other occupation beneath 
his dignity. On his return from the chase, or on completion of any other 
business, he throws himself in his hammock and, swinging to and fro, 
regards with indifference the labours and anxieties of his wives as they 
attend to the house and field, manufacture the earthen pots, plait bask- 
ets and mats, and attend to their children of tender age. 
435. While their lord and master, still steeped in idle dreams is 
rocking in his hantmock of a morning, the wives have left theirs long be- 
fore and, after bathing in the stream close by, prepare the breakfast. 
436. The simplicity of their lives, their scanty requirements, and the 
ease with which the latter can be satisfied, because Nature freely and 
