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Chapter Three. Phases of Life |
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wedding ceremony; reciprocal economic exchanges as the basis of marriage |
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Though a Konyak boy might have slept with the same girl for many months, no legal obligations resulted from their relationship until the performance of the ceremonies which alone gave social recognition to a couple's union. Not sexual union, which often preceded the wedding, but the acceptance of reciprocal social and economic obligations by the families of bride and groom constituted the basis of a marriage. So important was the economic factor, that even non-consummation of a marriage did not detract from its validity as long as both sides had fulfilled their economic obligations. |
