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Chapter Three. Phases of Life |
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chiefly polygyny among Thendu group, huge bride prices |
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In the villages of the Thendu group polygamy was more usual, and most ruling chiefs had a great number of wives. For wives of chiefly class very large bride prices were paid. The chief of Longkhai, who was by no means one of the wealthiest chiefs of great Ang class, paid for the daughter of the Ang of Chi a price of twenty dao, sixty spears, two large pigs, two baskets of betel leaves, one large basket of salt, seven chickens, and one goat. For wives of commoner status chiefs paid much smaller bride prices, and some chiefs were accustomed to take commoner girls into their house without formality. |
