MARRIAGE.

Marriage among the Bagobo takes place much later than is common among most Philippine tribes, the couple often being eighteen or twenty years of age.  As a rule the parents of the boy select the girl and negotiate the match.  Going to the house of the girl they casually broach the subject and if her parents are favorable, a day is set to discuss the details.  This meeting is attended by the friends and relatives of both families, and two head-men or datu must also be present to represent the contracting parties.  The price the girl should bring varies according to the wealth of the interested parties and the accomplishments of the bride.  Whatever the sum paid, the father of the girl must make a return present equal to one-half the value of the marriage gift “so that he does not sell his daughter like a slave.”  Usually marriage does not take place until a year or more after this settlement, and during the interval the boy must serve his father-in-law to be.  When the time for the final ceremony arrives the relatives and friends assemble and for two or three days they feast and make merry.  A mabalian spreads a mat on the floor, places on it many valuable articles and then offers all to the spirits, in order that they may be pleased to give the couple a long and prosperous life together.  Finally, she puts a dish of rice on the mat and, after offering it to the spirits, places it between the boy and the girl as they sit on the floor.  The girl takes a handful of the rice and feeds it to the boy who, in turn, feeds her, and the ceremony is complete.  The couple may then go to their new home, but for several years the girl’s family will exact a certain amount of service from the groom.

A slight variation of the usual order occurred recently at the marriage of one of Datu Tongkaling’s sons.  At that time all the details were arranged by the datu, who, accompanied by his son and a number of relatives, went to the girl’s house and proposed the union.  After the girl had brought wine, betel nut, and food, and had placed them before the visitors, she was directed by her mother to make a carrying bag for her lover.  Had she objected to the union and refused to make this gift, her decision would probably have been accepted as final and all negotiations abandoned.  However, it is not customary for the young people to refuse to carry out the wishes of their elders.  As the girl offered no objections, the party fell to discussing the price the groom should pay, and finally, after several hours of bargaining, decided that he should furnish her father with one agong,[1] one horse, and a double betel box.[2] Five days later, when he paid this sum, he received a return gift of one agong and ten skirts from the bride’s mother.  About one-half the value of the groom’s gift was distributed among the girl’s relatives, who were at the same time admonished that, in case a separation should occur,