Chap. XIX.—B. P.] BIRTHS, HEATHS, AND MARRIAGES. 307 
start housekeeping on their own account, though gene¬ 
rally they remain with the bride’s parents. 
This custom has a great influence in softening the 
manners of the men, and places the ladies in a very 
commanding position ; indeed, daughters are at a pre¬ 
mium, instead of being at a discount, as with other 
savage tribes. Besides, man and wife have the means 
of becoming so well acquainted with each other before 
marriage, as seldom to indulge in matrimonial squab¬ 
bling afterwards, so that unwonted peace is found in 
their lodges. The woman is really the partner of the 
man, and, save and except in using the bow and arrows 
in war or hunting in the forest, she shares his labours 
equally. Women paddle the canoes and work in the 
plantations quite as well as the men, the superiority 
of the male being only recognized by the weapons 
which he carries. 
They have a curious custom at their burials ; one of 
the forms strictly carried out on these occasions, 
amidst intense mushla drinking, is, on the death of 
any respected member of the tribe, to extend a cotton- 
thread from the house of the deceased to the place of 
burial. This thread is stretched—regardless of obsta¬ 
cles, whether hill or dale, river or swamp—as nearly 
as possible in a straight line. The experience on 
these occasions might be turned to good account in 
case any enterprising telegraphist ever decides to 
carry the wires into the interior of the State of 
Nicaragua. 
After death everything belonging to the deceased 
is burnt, and even his fruit-trees are cut down; 
x 2 
