[An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies by Robert Knox]@TWC D-Link bookAn Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies PART III 110/205
For if they disagree and mislike one the other; they part without disgrace.
Yet it stands firmer for the Man than for the Woman; howbeit they do leave one the other at their pleasure.
They do give according to their Ability a Portion of Cattle, Slaves and Money with their Daughters; but if they chance to mislike one another and part asunder, this Portion must be returned again, and then she is fit for another Man, being as they account never the worse for wearing. [Men and Women change till they can please themselves.] Both Women and Men do commonly wed four or five times before they can settle themselves to their contentation.
And if they have Children when they part, the Common Law is, the Males for the Man, and the Females for the Woman.
But many of the Women are free from this controversie, being Childless. [Women have two Husbands.] In this Countrey each Man, even the greatest, hath but one Wife; but a Woman often has two Husbands.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|