Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 39.djvu/404

390 Old people are greatly esteemed among the Quianganes, chiefly because they can serve as priests and have a special knowledge of religious doctrines and usages. In war, they readily follow the lead of the bravest. Women are highly respected, and, with children, are spared when blood feuds are prosecuted; for the vengeance of the Quianganes is executed only on grown men.

In marriage, the bride is bought from her uncle, or, if she has no uncle, from her brothers or cousins. On the death of his wife, or in case of divorce, the husband must return to her relatives the gifts he has received with her, and a buffalo in addition, especially if he intends to marry again. As he has also to make the usual presents to the relatives of his new bride, and is further expected to provide the wedding feast, a second marriage is a costly affair. Divorces are frequent. With the great irritability of the people, a harsh word is often enough, and the pair go apart. But there is usually a more serious cause than this. Children are spoiled. They are allowed to do as they please, and even to resist their parents, without correction. For a parent to chastise a child insures the condemnation of his tribesmen. In sharp contrast to this extreme neglect of their children is the mutual support of one another by adults. A personal assault demands unconditional blood-vengeance; a scornful word or gesture will not be borne. It is especially dangerous to excite their jealousy in the slightest degree. For this reason intercourse with them is not easy. They are themselves carefully on their guard against hurting the feelings of another, and demand that others shall do the same with them. Blood vengeance is a sacred law with the Quianganes. If one plebeian is killed by another, the matter is settled in a simple manner by killing the murderer or some one of his family who is likewise a plebeian. But if a prominent man or noble is killed by a plebeian, vengeance on the murderer, a mere plebeian, is not enough; the victim of the sin-offering must be an equivalent in rank. Another nobleman must fall for the murdered noble, for their doctrine is, What kind of an equivalent is it to kill some one who is no better than a dog? Hence the family of the slain noble looks around to see if it can not find a relative of the murderer to wreak vengeance upon, who is also a noble; while the murderer himself is ignored. If no noble can be found among his relatives, the family of the murdered man wait patiently till some one of them is received into the noble's caste; then the vendetta is prosecuted, although many years may have elapsed.

When the blood-feud is satisfied a reconciliation of the contending factions takes place. In all the feuds the heads of the murdered champions are cut off and taken home, and the headhunters celebrate the affair festally. The skulls are fixed to the front of the house.