POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 56/ 
never saw him either in the house of his friend, or walk- 
ing abroad, without the young woman by his side. 
Finding the object of her attachment, who was pro¬ 
bably about eighteen years of age, unmoved by her atten¬ 
tions, she not only became exceedingly unhappy, but 
declared, that if she continued to receive the same in- 
diiference and neglect^ she would either Strangle or drown 
herself. Her friends endeavoured to dissuade her from 
her purpose; but, as she expressed her determination 
to be unaltered, they used their endeavours With the 
stranger, who afterwards returned the attentions he had 
received, and the parties were married at Huahine. 
His companions pursued their voyage to Borabora, 
and afterwards returned to Tahiti, While the new-mar¬ 
ried couple continued to reside with Taraimano. Their 
happiness was of short duration; not that death dissolved 
their union, but that attachment, which had been so 
ardent in the bosom of the young woman before marriage, 
was superseded by a dislike as powerful; and although I 
never heard the slightest charge of unkindness preferred 
against the husband, his wife not only treated him with 
insult, but finally left him. Instances of such unhappy 
marriages, though not unusual formerly, are now of rare 
occurrence. 
It is only among the middle and lower ranks of society, 
that the contract is made by the parties themselves. I 
am not aware that the husband received any dowry 
with his wife, unless the rank of her family was 
inferior to that of his oWn. The suitor often made pre¬ 
sents to the parents of the individual whom he wished to 
marry, in order to gain their consent. 
Among the higher ranks, the individuals themselves 
were usually passive, and the arrangements were made 
