[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

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MARRIAGE AND RELATIONS OF SEXES I69
An account has been recorded of the matrimonial relations
of two families which is of interest for the picture it gives of
the instability oi marriage among the people of Lambumbu
and the neighbouring districts. How far this instability is native
to the culture of the people or how far it is an indirect effect of
contact with the white man was not ascertained.
A certain girl, Lirnbaot of Leneluk, married Noarag, a man of
Nouilopf in the district of Lagalag. As bride-wealth he gave a
pig of very high grade, lip mamis vaam, to Rombolili. Later
Raglili of Vanarop stole Limbaot from her husband and took
her away with him to Espiritu Santo. In going with him, Limbaot
had broken the contract into which, by her marriage she, or more
properly Rombolili, had entered with Noarag, and therefore
Rornbolili repaid to the latter the pig which had been handed
over as bride-wealth. Now, after his marriage to Limbaot, and
before she had deserted him, Noarag had married his own sister,
Letag, to Sauli, a man of Fe’marog village in Lagalag. After his
wife had run away, Noarag felt sore and angry, despite the
return of the bride-wealth. Desiring to have some woman as
companion, but being perhaps unwilling at the same time to
venture once more into matrimony, he asked his sister to leave
her husband and join him. This she was not very willing to do,
but after some hesitation she acceded to his wishes, for she was
very sorry for him as his father was dead. These two, Noarag and
Letag, then went also to Santo, and here Noarag married a
second time and eventually went to live in'Wala. What happened
to Letag we do not know, nor is there any mention of Noarag
repaying the bride-wealth which he had received for her. Sauli,
her husband, however, ï¬Ånding himself deserted, married again.
After a time, Raglili compensated Rornbolili for having had to
return the bride-wealth for Limbaot by purchasing from him a
sacred object of the Nimangk'i,1 for which he gave a pig of the
same value as that which Rombolili had returned.
SEXUAL LIFE
In Malekula, as in most parts of the world, it is recognized
that, while a wife is expected to be faithful though her husband
1 For the sacred objects purchased in the Nimavtgki see below, Chap. XII,-
C. H. W.