l this, they abhorred,
and chastised, and rigorously punished incest.

122. In the celebration of their marriages, espousals, and divorces,
and in the giving and receiving of dowries, they also proceeded
according to reason. In the first place, they agreed as to the dowry,
which is promised and given even now by the man, in the sum named by
the parents. When it is determined the betrothal takes place, generally
with a conventional penalty which is rigorously executed. However,
neither men nor women take it for an insult or grieve greatly if
the betrothal be refused, because then they benefit by the fine. The
truth is, that if those who are bound by the fine were the parents,
after their deaths the children are free to break the contract without
incurring the penalty, by only the restitution of the amount received
as dowry.

Matrimony at present includes, besides the above, the delivery of
the person and the dowry. The latter is not received by the woman but
by her parents or relatives, as it were selling their girls, in the
manner of the Mesopotamians and other nations. The parents convert
the dowry into their own estate, and it is distributed with the other
property, at their deaths, among all the children equally. But if
the son-in-law has been very obedient to his parents-in-law; then
the latter generally return the dowry to their children. The other
relatives are only depositaries of what they must again deliver to the
children. Besides the dowry, the chiefs formerly gave some presents
to the parents and relatives, and even to the slaves, to a greater
or less amount according to the rank of the bridegroom.

The pagan ceremony and form of marriage had to be authorized by
a sacrifice; for after the marriage had been agreed upon and the
dowry paid over, the catalona came, and a hog was brought to her. The
ceremonies were performed as in other sacrifices. The lovers having
seated themselves in their bridal chamber, each in the lap of an old
woman who acted as godmother, the latter gave them to eat from one
plate and to drink from one cup. The bridegroom said that he took
the woman to wife, and, accepting her, the catalona or babaylana
immediately gave them a thousand benedictions, saying to them: "May
you be well mated. May you beget many children and grandchildren,
all rich and brave," and other things of this sort. Thereupon the hog
was slain, and the lovers were married; and when the others became
tired of dancin