" The household nats are then invoked and a libation of sheroo and water
'' poured out."

"Fowls, &c. (which mean usually pigs), are then killed and their blood
is sprinkled on the grass-path (and also on the bride), over which the
bride and her attendants (the two bridesmaids only) pass to the house
and oi^er boiled eggs, ginger, and dried fish to the household deities. This
concludes the ceremony in which the bridegroom takes no part." — George.
The same night a jai-wa (arch-priest) intones the customary advice to
the young people and invokes a blessing on them {Num lanyi ai).
" The marriage feast ends like all their festivities, in great drunkenness
disorder and often in a fight." — (Anderson). I should here mention that'
though Kachins do frequently marry for love, the marriage de convenance
is by far the most common. A girl's wishes are very rarely consulted, and
if the parents accept a proposal for the hand of their daughter she must
abide by their decision even though she has already an accepted lover.
The only way she can avoid a distasteful marriage is by inducing her
chosen lover to abduct and marry her before she is pledged to the other
party.
( 143 )

Disease, death, and burial.
