ceremonies, as we shall later see. For
marriage, moreover, they have distinct formalities of betrothal,
which are accompanied by conventional penalties, most rigorously
executed. Here is an example: Si Apai promises to marry Cai Polosin;
these married persons make an agreement with another married pair,
while the wives are with child, that if the wombs of their respective
wives should bear a male and a female those two children shall be
joined in marriage, under a penalty of ten gold taes. This compact is
solemnized by a feast, where they eat, drink, and become intoxicated;
and he who later is the occasion of breaking the compact must pay the
penalty. This is betrothal. In the marriage there figures a dowry,
and the surrender of the woman, with consent for the present, but
not perpetual. It is not the wife, but the husband, who gives her
the dowry--an amount agreed upon, and fixed in accordance with his
means. This is what some authors [88] relate of various nations,
which were accustomed to purchase women as their wives. In addition
to the dowry the husband is wont to make some presents to the parents
and relatives--more or less, according to his means. While I was in
Tigbauan the chief of the island of Cuyo came to marry his son to
the daughter of Tarabucon, chief of Oton, which is close by the town
of Arebalo and a mission-village under the fathers of St. Augustine
They were married by a minister of high standing in that order, named
Father Pedro de Lara, [89] who was then vicar of that convent. From him
and from another religious of the same house I learned that besides
the dowry (which was very large), and a generous offering sent to
the convent, the husband bestowed, in his grandeur and munificence,
presents upon the parents of the bride, her brothers and relations, and
even upon the numerous slaves. The marriage lasted no longer than did
peace between them; for they are divorced on the slightest occasion. If
the cause of the divorce is unjust, and the man parts from his wife,
he loses the dowry; if it is she who leaves him, she must restore the
dowry to him. But if the man has just cause for divorce, and leaves
her, his dowry must be restored to him; if in such case the wife
leaves him, she retains the dowry. For the husband, the adultery of
his wife is sufficient ground for divorce; for the woman, just cause
for divorce is more limited. In case of divorce, the children are
divided equally between the two, without