aircase, for the slave; but when
she reaches the top of the stairway and looks into her father-in-law's
house and sees the people assembled within, she again pretends to be
bashful, and the father-in-law must give her another slave. After
she has entered, the same thing takes place; and he must give her
a jewel to make her sit down, another to make her begin to eat, and
another before she will drink. While the betrothed pair are drinking
together an old man rises, and in a loud voice calls all to silence,
as he wishes to speak. He says: "So-and-so marries so-and-so, but on
the condition that if the man should through dissolute conduct fail
to support his wife, she will leave him, and shall not be obliged to
return anything of the dowry that he has given her; and she shall
have freedom and permission to marry another man. And therefore,
should the woman betray her husband, he can take away the dowry that he
gave her, leave her, and marry another woman. Be all of you witnesses
for me to this compact." When the old man has ended his speech, they
take a dish filled with clean, uncooked rice, and an old woman comes
and joins the hands of the pair, and lays them upon the rice. Then,
holding their hands thus joined, she throws the rice over all those
who are present at the banquet. Then the old woman gives a loud shout,
and all answer her with a similar shout; and the marriage contract or
ceremony is completed. Up to this time, her parents do not allow the
young couple to eat or sleep together; but by performing this ceremony
they deliver her up as his wife. But if, after the marriage contract
has been negotiated by a third party, the man who seeks marriage should
repent of the bargain and seek to marry another woman, he loses the
earnest-money that he has given, even if he has had no intercourse with
the former; because when they commence negotiations for the marriage
they begin to give the dowry. If a man say in conversation, or at a
drunken feast, "I wish to marry so-and-so, daughter of so-and-so,"
and afterward break his promise and refuse to marry her, he is fined
for it; and they take away a great part of his property.

In regard to the dowry, neither the husband nor the wife can
enjoy it until they have children; for until then it belongs to the
father-in-law. If the bridegroom is not of age to marry, or the bride
is too young, both still work in the house of the father-in-law until
they are of age to live together.