Chap. XX. MAXXER OF ACTION. 373 
divorce is perfectly free. With the Abipones, when 
a man chooses a wife he bargains with the parents 
about the price. But ^' it frequently happens that the 
tfc girl rescinds what has been agreed upon between the 
‘‘parents and the bridegroom, obstinately rejecting the 
“ very mention of marriage.” She often runs away, 
hides herself, and thus eludes the bridegroom. In the 
Fiji Islands the man seizes on the woman whom he 
wishes for his wife by actual or pretended force ; but 
“ on reaching the home of her abductor, should she not 
“ approve of the match, she runs to some one who can 
“ protect her ; if, however, she is satisfied, the matter is 
“settled forthwith.” In Tierra del Fuego a young 
man first obtains the consent of the parents by doing 
them some service, and then he attempts to carry o£F 
the girl ; “ but if she is unwilling, she hides herself 
“in the woods until her admirer is heartily tired of 
“ looking for her, and gives up the pursuit ; but this 
“ seldom happens.” AVith the Kalmucks there is a 
regular race between the bride and bridegroom, the 
former having a fair start ; and Clarke “ was assured 
“ that no instance occurs of a girl being caught, unless 
“ she has a partiality to the pursuer.” So with the 
wild tribes of the Malay archipelago there is a similar 
racing match ; and it appears from M. Bourien’s account, 
as Sir J. Lubbock remarks, that “ the race ‘ is not to 
“‘ the swift, nor the battle to the strong,’ but to the 
“ young man who has the good fortune to please his 
“ intended bride.” 
Turning to Africa: the Kafirs buy their wives, and 
girls are severely beaten by their fathers if they will 
not accept a chosen husband ; yet it is manifest from 
many facts given by the Eev. Mr. Shooter, that they 
have considerable power of choice. Thus very ugly, 
though rich men, have been known to fail in getting 
