The girl is not precluded because she belongs to the same family within certain degrees.

The only restriction in the House-rituals is that she shall have had "on the mother's and father's side" wise, pious, and honorable ancestors for ten generations ([=A]cvl.

I.5).

Then comes the legal restriction, which some scholars call 'primitive,' that the wife must not be too nearly related.

The girl has her own ordeal (not generally mentioned among ordeals!): The wooer that thus selects his bride (this he does if one has not been found already either by his parents or by his own inclination) makes eight balls of earth and calls on the girl to choose one ('may she get that to which she is born').