v THE LAKHER OR MARA CLAN 217

during his years of vigour in paying off the debt of his mother's
marriage price, and can only afford to take a wife of a higher
station than his own when he is no longer capable of becoming
a father. In the interval he takes a concubine, generally of a
lower class than his own. On the other hand, the marriage or
betrothal of children by their parents is common. Such
marriages are on two scales. In both from the date of betrothal
the bridegroom commences to pay the marriage price in
irregular instalments; in one, however, he contracts, if he
becomes a father by his bride, to pay the whole marriage price,
and can claim the return of all payments made if the decease
of his bride precedes such an event; in the other he pays only
a proportion of the whole fixed beforehand, which is not
recoverable, even if marriage is never consummated. The first
is in more general favour with parents, as even in the case of
the death of the prospective bride it is by no means certain
that, in view of the disparity in position of the families, the
bridegroom will be able to compel disgorgernent of the
instalments paid."

"The above description of customs refers mutatis mutandis
to all classes of society except slaves. The desirability
of an unmarried girl varies directly with the social posi-
tion of the parents; appearance, industry, and chastity are
entirely subordinate factors, and exercise very little influence
on the marriage price demanded. There is a strange custom
by which a husband who finds his wife incompatible may
exchange her for any of her sisters still unmarried. A younger
brother, again, whose parents are dead, even though already
married, takes over as a rule the wife as well as the liability
of an elder brother who has predeceased him. The precedence
of such wives should be regulated solely by the position of their
parents, and breaches of this rule, owing to the partiality of the
husband, lead frequently to bitter feuds."

The following valuable note on the marriage price of a
Lakher girl, and on the dues payable at death, by Mr. K. A.
Lorrain, is inserted just as received:—

The important position occupied by the bride's eldest
brother and her maternal uncle are noticeable.