and the
parochial fees of the marriage, so that scarcely any is left for the
parents of the couple. This is the practice that I have seen observed
where I have been. These and other ogalis (which are customs) can
only have their origin in the past, and come from father to son,
and even there is variety in them, according to their distinct origins.

500. That which in Espana is called "the exchange of rings," in order
to give security to the marriage contract and the wishes of those who
are to contract it, has also been observed here, the couple giving
each other some jewel. This has been called talingbohol. This was
followed by the habilin, which is the sign that they have given the
dowry which they had promised. And this was like the sign in shops
to show that the price was fixed and that the article could not be
sold at another price. Some fathers have maintained the custom of
asking the same price for their daughter as they paid for the mother
when they were married; but as fortunes are unequal, this cannot be
maintained inexorably, nor at all times, nor with all.

501. The dowry was never returned to the one who gave it, unless the
son-in-law were so obedient to his parents-in-law that he should win
their affection, in which case they returned him the dowry, at the
death of any one; but this was rather a matter of charity than of
obligation, as all confess. If the woman who was to be married was
alone, and had neither parents nor grandparents, she herself and no
other received the dowry. At present, the greed of the Indians must
be greater; for this poor lone woman is never without either the
chichiva who gave her the breast, who will not be left without her
payment, or uncle, aunt, or other relative in whose care she has been
because of the loss of her legitimate parents. And since the above
consider themselves as her parents in this matter (the pinaca ama,
as the Indians call it) they take upon themselves the place of her
parents, and get all the money, just as if they were the true parents.

502. All the relatives and friends who go to weddings were also
wont to take each some little present. These gifts were set down
very carefully and accurately, in an account, noting whatever each
one gave. For if Pedro So-and-so gave two reals at this wedding,
two reals were also given to him if he had another wedding in his
house. All this money is spent, either in paying, if anything is due
for the wedding, or as an aid