WHERE LEAP-YEAR IS PERENNIAL.

Lake County Press, Issue 2051, 19 January 1905, Page 7

WHERE LEAP-YEAR IS PERENNIAL.

Among the inhabit tints of some of the many Torres Straits islands It is one of the customs of the fair sex to propose not during out? year in four only. but. iu every year. If a more man dares to do such a thing he is considered to be womanish. Thc.se people arc a Melasesiau race of the Papuan type. When a boy grows into manhood he is at once taught that, lie must take no notice of any woman until she sends a piece of spring lo his sister. If she does this it is a sign that | she wants to marry him, and the man’s sister says to him, “ Brother i I have good news for you. A wo- | man loves you.” lie asks who the woman is, and if welling to go on with the affair, tells his sister to ask the girl to keep an appointment with him at some designated spot. At the appointed time, they meet, and talk the matter over. The betrothal is often made at the first I meeting if both parties are satisfied. When a man and a woman begin to “ keep company,” ho is branded on the back with charcoal, while her mark is cut into the skin, liecause she “ asked the man.” They are expected to get married, but if they don’t, nothing enu he done. If it, is the man who is unwilling he is given a sound thrashing by Hie girl’s father and friends. After marriage, in spi to of the fact that the girl did the proposing she becomes the property of her husband. She even is so completely in his power that he may, if she should offend him, kill her with impunity.