Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 5, 1894.djvu/40

32 quote from the Madura Manual concerning the Kunuvans, who live in the same tract of country as the Kullens.

"A husband can at anytime get rid of his wife by taking her to her parents, together with a pair of oxen, if he be an Eastern Kunnavan, and a vati, or round metal dish, if he be a Western. On the other hand, if the wife dislikes her partner, she may leave him on giving up her golden jewels. The silvern she retains in such case, and may, according to her pleasure, either go back to her father's house or marry another man. In the west, however, she takes with her only such property as she may have possessed at the time of her marriage. Her children must all be made over to the deserted husband; and if she be pregnant when she goes away, and a child be born whilst she is living with her second husband, it must nevertheless be given up to the first upon payment of the expense of bearing it in the east, upon mere demand in the west. In this way a woman may legally marry any number of men in succession, though she may not have two husbands at one and the same time. She may, however, bestow favours on paramours without hindrance, provided they be of equal caste with her. On the other hand, a man may indulge in polygamy to any extent he pleases, and the Western Kunnavans keep several wives and servants, particularly for agricultural purposes."

Sati never obtained here, except among the Aryan races. A Kullen woman leaving her husband must return the present (corresponding to the oli of the Wadders, and others) which he gave her when he married her; and when this has been done the discarded husband is treated to a feast. A second or third marriage involves little ceremony—a few family friends to be feasted, and a new marriage token to be tied. There is no compulsory widowhood, as among the Hindus; a brother-in-law, or any man she fancies, supplies the place of the deceased husband. A curious polyandrous arrangement obtains, though it is not always admitted. Mr. Nelson thus describes it in his