Parties of unequal rank are allowed to intermarry, and if the mother
only belongs to the class of chiefs, while the father is of an inferior
order, the latter must make every exterior demonstration of respect
due to the superior rank of his wife and children. In the Bonabee
islands the parties to the marriage must be of equal rank, otherwise
the connection is without legal force, unless it has been previously
ratified by the chief. No woman can be compelled to accept a man
as husband whom she dislikes. Polygamy is common, and a man
may marry as many wives as he can support. Marriages are celebrated
by feasting and dancing in the community-house. The chief is seated
on the elevated platform with the bride and her female friends to his
rio-ht, and the bridegroom and his intimate companions on his left
side. The jaggow is prepared from the root of the betel pepper with
many ceremonial formalities, and the infusion is passed round to the
invited guests according to their rank. In the meantime a dog, con-
tributed by the bridegroom, is roasted in an oven of heated stones,
and yams, cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit are brought in baskets by the
invited guests as a marriage present. When the feast is ready the
chief cuts up the meat with his bamboo knife, and distributes small
slices with a portion of other provisions, to those assembled oh the
occasion. After the repast is finished the dancing begins. The
women form a line on one side of the house, with the bride in the
centre, and the men, on the opposite side, are ranged in a line of
which the bridegroom occupies the central position. The dancers
wave in their hands fancy paddles, which they strike together in
perfect time, stamping alternately with their feet, waving their body
to the right or to the left, and swinging their arms to the measure of
the song and the beat of the drum. This closes up the festivities
of the day, and all retire to their home. Next day the newly-married
pair again proceed to the community-house, where they are met by
their friends and acquaintances. The edyonet, who makes his appear-



352 OCEANO-MELANESIANS.
