| caption: |
Chapter Twenty-two. Love and Poetry |
| caption: |
sexual affairs and rights; payment of tribute for protection |
| text: |
The next morning, Shankok tells me with great pride how he has really conquered the little one with the merry eyes, and how he has exercised his right as member of a great and strong village to throw out a Chingtang boy, also courting the favours of the girl. The Chingtang people, who in former times enjoyed the protection of Wakching, even today recognize the overlordship of the Thepong morung, and pay a considerable tribute. To enjoy the favours of the girls of Chingtang is one of the privileges accorded to Thepong men, and though the girls are not compelled to comply, they are seldom hard-hearted enough to allow the boys, who have come all the long way from Wakching, to go home uncomforted. Shankok, does not consider his adventure in Chingtang in any way unfaithfulness to Shikna. To sleep with a pretty girl of a neighbouring village at the Spring Festival is the most natural thing in the world, and has little to do with his love for Shikna. |
