Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/161

Rh the girl's family. Then the parents, brothers and sisters of the girl, accompanied by their relations, the chief of the village and a number of villagers, visit the boy's family and inspect the bride-money. Previously to their arrival, the articles will be laid out in the inner yard of the house to await an inspection. When the party arrives a relative of the bride counts the articles, and if the number be found correct they accept it. When the business is over the go-between sits on a wooden mortar and performs a rite, which is also called Shibarai. He holds in his hand a cup of water and says the following words: "The negotiation is hereby completed; the two families have become relations by the exchange of presents; if there occurs any dissatisfaction in future it must be discussed amicably." Then the heads of the two families reply, "Yes." Upon this the go-between dips his forefinger in water, and this is also done by the heads of the girl's family and of the boy's family. By performing this ceremony it is considered that the marriage negotiation is settled, and neither party is allowed to break it. When this rite is ended the boy's family bring out the preserved meat and wine, with which they treat the girl's family and the people of their village. During this feast the bridegroom appears, and he addresses the brothers and male cousins of the bride, calling each of them Nanai, meaning "brother of his wife," and offers them a cup of wine. Then he goes round the parents, uncles, aunts, sisters and female cousins, calling each of them relations and offering them a cup of wine. When the feast is over the boy's family gives a portion of meat and wine to the relations of the bride and the villagers, and then they go home. The parents, brothers and sisters of the bride remain behind, and spend several days with the boy's family.

In some groups the bride-money is handed over when a child is born after the marriage. Otherwise, a few days after the bride-money has been taken back by the girl's