. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. 474 THE WILD TRIBES OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. -lev Marriiig'c, among all these triV)e,s, is said to he l>ased on purchase. Of the actual ceremonies the most interesting is the form of wedding rite which is usual!}- described as the ant-heap ceremony. The bride- groom is required to overtake the bride before she has run seven times round the ant-heap, and in the event of his failing to do so the marriage has to l)e postponed for
. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. 474 THE WILD TRIBES OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. -lev Marriiig'c, among all these triV)e,s, is said to he l>ased on purchase. Of the actual ceremonies the most interesting is the form of wedding rite which is usual!}- described as the ant-heap ceremony. The bride- groom is required to overtake the bride before she has run seven times round the ant-heap, and in the event of his failing to do so the marriage has to l)e postponed for a future occasion. This is the usual account given by people who have recorded it from hearsa}". I was, however, on one occasion fortunate enough to be present at one of these weddings, and I then discovered that the orthodox ol)ject round which the chasing took place was not really an ant heap, but a small arti- ficial mound, the cause of the confusion being the use of the Malay word Busut, which may bear either meaning. The artificial moimd (tig. 3) which was used on this occasion was about 3i feet high with al)out the same diameter at the base. Its shape was that of a truncated cone, surmounted by a small globe and knob. It re- sembled not remotely a gigantic bell and })ell han- dle. It was decorated with jungle flowers, and the Jakun chiefs assured me that this was the "genuine article,'' and that it was the eml)lem of their religion, and I see no reason for dting the statement. Before the pursuit of the bride takes place the man or his i)rox3' is subjected to a severe catechism by the woman's representatives, the questions asked l)eing of a most s(^arching description, e. g.: "Can you fell trees? "Can you climl) for fruit? "Can you tind turtles' eggs? "Are you clever at using the )»l()wpipe? and "Can you smoke cigarettes?" This li\st (luery doubtless relates to the fact that the ceremony some- times concludes with the smoking of a
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