File:Children of Borneo (1912) (14763408805).jpg

Identifier: childrenofborneo00gome (find matches)
Title: Children of Borneo
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Gomes, Edwin Herbert, 1862-
Subjects: Children -- Borneo Borneo -- Social life and customs
Publisher: Edinburgh and London : Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ets, and with streamersand flags flying, to an accompaniment of gongs anddrums and musical instruments, to fetch the brideto her future home. When the boat arrives at the landing-stage of thebrides house, they all walk up—a gaily dressed crowd—and are welcomed into the house. Here they sitdown and talk over the future prospects of theyoung couple, chewing betel-nut and sireh (a kindof pepper leaf) all the time. A portion of thesechewing ingredients are carefully set aside to beused later on. The Dyak with his great love fordivination, cannot allow such an occasion to passwithout some attempt to find out the secrets of thefuture. The company all sit down in the long common hallof the Dyak house, and the betel-nut, sireh, etc.,specially set aside for the ceremony, are broughtforward. A betel-nut is split into seven pieces by onesupposed to be lucky in matrimonial matters, andthese, together with the other ingredients of the betel-nut mixture, are all put in a little basket, which is
Text Appearing After Image:
IN \VKIH);N(; IIMCKV MARRIAGES AND BURIALS 69 bound together with red cloth, and laid for a shorttime upon the open platform adjoining the house. The Master of the Ceremonies, who splits the betel-nut, then makes a little speech, telling the assembledguests that if either party should desert the otherwithout sufficient reason, the offending party shall befined such an amount as has been agreed upon. The basket containing the split pieces of betel-nutis then brought in and uncovered, and the contentsexamined to ascertain the wiU of the gods. Shouldthe pieces of betel-nut, by some mj^stic power, increasein number, the marriage wUl be an unusually happyone ; but should they decrease, it is a bad omen, andthe marriage must be postponed or relinquishedaltogether. But, as a matter of fact, they neitherincrease nor decrease, and this is taken to mean thatthe wedding is one upon which the spirits have pro-nounced neither a good nor a bad verdict. This action gives the name to the marriage cer

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