MARRIAGES, 
263 
collecting 1 air in the lungs, and strongly emitting it into the head of 
the sumpitan partly inserted into the mouth of the projector. The 
range, to take proper effect, is about seventy or eighty feet; some can 
reach one hundred and forty or fifty feet; but then there will be lit¬ 
tle chance of being dangerously wounded.* 
MARRIAGES. 
Marriages arc ordinarily celebrated about the months of July and 
August, when fruits are plentiful. The bridegroom frequents for 
some time the house of his intended, and when he has obtained her 
consent, he makes a formal demand to the father. A day is then ap¬ 
pointed; and an entertainment is prepared, more or less solemn, ac¬ 
cording to the means of the two contracting parties, and their rank 
in the tribe. When the day of the marriage is arrived, the bride¬ 
groom repairs to the bouse of the bride’s father, where the whole tribe 
is assembled. The dowry given by the man to his intended is de¬ 
livered, and must consist at least of a silver or copper ring, and a 
few cubits of cloth: if the man is not poor, a pair of bracelets. Some 
other ornaments, and several articles, as of furniture for the house 
of the new family, are added. Sometimes the woman presents also 
some gifts to her intended. Then the bride is delivered by her fa- 
r 
ther to the bridegroom, and the solemnity of the wedding begins. 
Some others state that amongst some tribes there is a dance in the 
midst of which the bride elect darts off into the forest, followed by the 
bridegroom. A chase ensues, - during which, should the youth fall 
down, or return unsuccesful, he is met with the jeers and merriments 
of the whole party, and the match is declared off. This story was relat¬ 
ed to me, a little differently by a European who inhabited Pahang ma¬ 
ny years. During the banquet a large fire is kindled, all the congrega¬ 
tion standing as witnesses; the bride runs round the fire: the bride¬ 
groom who must run in the same direction, follows her; if he catches 
her, the marriage is valid ; if he cannot it is declared off. All the Ja- 
? See the timiang or sumpitan used by the Mintira and other Berrotm 
tribes described ante , Yol: I, p. 272. A principal defect of the weapon is 
that, from the excessive lightness of the darts or arrows, a pulT of wind af¬ 
fects their direction. Ed, 
