ded
upon a suitable girl he informs his parents and the friends he may wish
to accompany him when he goes to her home to press his suit. Arrived at
the house, the father of the suitor expresses his belief that his son
wishes to reside there since he now asks the daughter for his wife. In
reply he is told that the family is poor, having neither agongs,
animals, or other things of value. The suitor at once makes an offering
of some of these desired articles, but whatever the gift may be, a
return present equal to half its value must be made.[67] Should the
girl's parents reject the gift all negotiations would be called off and
the guests return home, but as a rule, both families are well aware of
and favorable to the expected wedding sometime before the visit of the
groom's parents. After the exchange of gifts, food is furnished first to
the guests and later to the couple, who in the presence of all the
friends, feed each other with rice and are henceforth considered as
husband and wife. Until after the birth of a child the couple live with
the girl's family and the groom serves his father-in-law. After the
birth of an heir the couple establish a home of their own and to it the
husband may bring other wives if he desires. He pays a price for these
new wives, but does not give any services to their families. The first
mate is considered superior to the others, and in case her husband dies,
she acts as administrator of his property; however, the children of a
second wife share equally with those by the first marriage.

[67] Note the similarity to the Bagobo custom. Page 101.

The evening following a death, the friends gather and throughout the
night sing of the virtues of the deceased and of their own sorrow. The
body is placed on a mat in the center of the house and for three days is
watched over by the relatives, who, during this time, abstain from
music, dancing, shouting, or loud talking. The women cease from weaving
and the men refrain from all labor. A breaking of this taboo would
result in the certain death of the offender, for the spirit of the dead
man is still near at hand and is sure to wreak his vengeance on those
who show him disrespect. Finally, the body is wrapped in mats and is
buried at some little distance from the house. All the people return to
the dwelling, where the headman makes a cup out of leaves, and having
placed in it a narrow belt or string, together with betel leaves, sets
it adrift on a near-