Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/163

 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 133 islands, women are held, may be judged from the following fact. A Chief of Nandy, Viti Levu, was very desirous to have a musket which an American Captain had shown him. The price of the coveted piece was two hogs. The Chief had only one ; but he sent on board with it a young woman as an equivalent. I afterwards saw the girl, and was ac- quainted with her purchaser, by whose wife she was kept as a servant. The natives have gravely asked the Missionaries whether they bought their wives, and what they cost, supposing that such was the custom in the white man's land. Nevertheless, although not an article of trade among themselves, woman is fearfully degraded in Fiji. In many parts of the group she is as a beast of burden, not exempt from any kind of labour, and for- bidden to enter any temple : certain kinds of food she may eat only by sufferance, and that after her husband has finished. In youth, she is the victim of lust, and in old age, of brutality. Such of the young women as are acquainted with the Avay in which a w4fe is secured in England, regard it with strong admiration, and envy the favoured women who wed " the man to whom their spirit flies." It sometimes happens, however, that persons are thus privileged in Fiji, and permitted to choose for themselves. When such is the case, affection progresses to possession by certain steps, which vary slightly in different parts of the group. When the female is betrothed, the ob- servances are nearly the same. The veidomoni, or " mutual attachment," is the first step. In this the young man asks the girl of her parents, taking a present or not, as he judges best. When anything is given, it is not considered in the light of a price paid, but merely as a matter of form. Should the re- quest meet with a favourable reply, the girl's friends veimei, "nurse," or take her to the house of her intended husband's parents, presenting, at the same time, property — teeth, cloth, or mats. A custom, which is certainly pretty, is then observed. Not even a heathen can leave the scenes of childhood and careless joy without tears, and the " nursed " girl often weeps freely. The friends of the bridegroom endeavour to solace her by presenting trinkets as expressions of their regard. This is called the vakamamaca, or " drying-up-of-the-tears." Then follows the vakaiaJcaia, or " warming." This is food made by the man, and taken to the friends of the bride, w^ho still remains where her friends left her. In some parts, she enjoys a holiday for four days, sitting in her new home, oiled, and covered with turmeric powder. At the end of four days she bathes, accompanied by a number of women — generally mar- ried women — who help her to fish. On returning home, the fish is