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Chapter Three. Phases of Life |
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large payment by bride's kinsmen to her husband |
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The ceremonial exchange of gifts between two families was usually initiated by the large single payment which a new bride's kinsmen made to her husband. Thus, at the end of the rice harvest Shankok slaughtered a large pig and sent it to the house of Shanglou, the husband of his sister Meniu. In addition, he gave Shanglou ten large baskets of rice and a large pot of rice beer. Men of Shankok's clan carried these gifts in solemn procession to Shanglou's house. On this occasion the recipient slaughtered a small pig and entertained Shankok and his clansmen. Both Shankok's and Shanglou's kinsmen ate and drank together in Shanglou's house. Women too took part in the feast, and the only person too shy to join the festivities was Meniu, the sister of Shankok and wife of Shanglou. |
