THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
181 
house ; and in the morning the husband brings her home, 
accompanied by her friends, who carry with them provisions 
for another feast. In bringing home the bride a strange 
ancient custom is observed ; the bride is always obliged to 
march before her husband, and never to be out of his sight 
by the way. The traditionary reason for this practice is, 
that a man on this occasion once happening to walk fore- 
most, his wife was carried off from him before he was aware ; 
a circumstance not at all unlikely to happen more than 
once among a people who think so lightly of the marriage 
ties. The wedding-day is always looked upon as a time of 
particular festivity ; and those who are able to afford it, never 
fail to have the feasts accompanied with music and dancing; 
the merriment is often protracted, and certain nuptial songs 
continue to be carolled the whole night long. 
The portion given with the daughter is in proportion to 
the ability of the parents ; and if the young couple are not 
in circumstances to maintain themselves, they still continue 
to reside with their parents. If the young people find after 
marriage that their dispositions do not agree, they separate 
without ceremony ; only the woman carries with her the 
portion she brought, in order to make her as good a match 
for her next husband. Both men and women often marry 
and divorce several times in this manner, before they have 
found a partner, with whom they can reconcile themselves 
to spend the remainder of their days. 
Owing to the early intercourse of the tvomen with the 
