jewel to make her sit down, another to make her begin to eat, and another before she will drink.  While the betrothed pair are drinking together an old man rises, and in a loud voice calls all to silence, as he wishes to speak.  He says:  “So-and-so marries so-and-so, but on the condition that if the man should through dissolute conduct fail to support his wife, she will leave him, and shall not be obliged to return anything of the dowry that he has given her; and she shall have freedom and permission to marry another man.  And therefore, should the woman betray her husband, he can take away the dowry that he gave her, leave her, and marry another woman.  Be all of you witnesses for me to this compact.”  When the old man has ended his speech, they take a dish filled with clean, uncooked rice, and an old woman comes and joins the hands of the pair, and lays them upon the rice.  Then, holding their hands thus joined, she throws the rice over all those who are present at the banquet.  Then the old woman gives a loud shout, and all answer her with a similar shout; and the marriage contract or ceremony is completed.  Up to this time, her parents do not allow the young couple to eat or sleep together; but by performing this ceremony they deliver her up as his wife.  But if, after the marriage contract has been negotiated by a third party, the man who seeks marriage should repent of the bargain and seek to marry another woman, he loses the earnest-money that he has given, even if he has had no intercourse with the former; because when they commence negotiations for the marriage they begin to give the dowry.  If a man say in conversation, or at a drunken feast, “I wish to marry so-and-so, daughter of so-and-so,” and afterward break his promise and refuse to marry her, he is fined for it; and they take away a great part of his property.

In regard to the dowry, neither the husband nor the wife can enjoy it until they have children; for until then it belongs to the father-in-law.  If the bridegroom is not of age to marry, or the bride is too young, both still work in the house of the father-in-law until they are of age to live together.

Marriage among the timaguas.  The timaguas do not follow these usages, because they have no property of their own.  They do not observe the ceremony of joining hands over the dish of rice, through respect for the chiefs; for that ceremony is for chiefs only.  Their marriage is accomplished when the pair unite in drinking pitarrilla from the same cup.  Then they give a shout, and all the guests depart; and they are considered as married, for they are not allowed to drink together until late at night.  The same ceremony is observed by rich and respectable slaves.