Note 2 — Chapter V · THE LAKHER OR MARA CLAN

Name of Price. Amount of Price.2 No. To whom price is paid and other particulars in regard to the Marriage Customs of the Mara Tribes.

Common People. Ruling Clan.

O-Kia Rs. 20/- Gong (7 spans). Gun. Rs. 150/- One slave. Two Mithan. 1 When the whole family live in the same house, none of the sons having their own houses, then the Prices Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and Nos. 9, 10, 11, have all to be paid to the father of the bride.

Sei-pi-hra Rs. 20/- Gong (7 spans). Gun. Rs. 50/- One Mithan (female). 2 If the family is divided and the eldest son has a house of his own, then the father has price No. 11 and the eldest son must have price No 1, while the prices Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and Nos. 9, 10, are at the eldest son’s disposal and he may or may not share with the youngest son as he pleases.

Chaw chyu Rs. 20/- Gong (7 spans). Gun. Rs. 50/- One Mithan. Gun (syulô). 3

Sei-chei-hra Rs 20/- Gong (7 spans). Gun. Rs 50/- One Mithan. Gun (syulô). 4

Nô-hla Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 10/- Beer pot (Ra-cha). 5

Saw-hla Rs. 1/- Full grown hen Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). 6

Kei-ma Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 5/- Beer pot (Ra-cha). 7 No. 7 has to be paid to the friend of the father of the bride if the sons and father live in the same house. But if the family is divided, the eldest son having his own house, then this must be paid to his friend instead of the father’s.

Lao-khyu Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 5/- Beer pot (Ra-cha). 8 No. 8 has to be paid to the bride’s mother’s brother (bride’s uncle).

Rai-pi-hra Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 10/- Beer pot (Rai-pi). 9

Aw-rua-baw-na Rs. 5/- Beer pot (Ra-cha). Rs. 50/- One Mithan. Gun. 10

Si-sa-zi or chhi-sa-zi. a U-thei-pa Rs. 10/- A “Sisa” bead. Rs. 20/- A “Sisa” bead. 11 Note.—No. 11, divided into three sums, has to be given on engagement before marriage, and is kept by the father of the bride.

a Lia-pa Rs. 5/- Brass pot (5 spans). Rs. 10/- A “Sisa” bead.

a Sei-hnai-pa Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 5/- Beer pot (Ra-cha).

PU-MA.3

A-ma-pi Rs. 20/- Gong (7 spans). Gun. Rs. 150/- One slave. Two Mithan. 12 Pu-ma has to be paid by the bridegroom to the bride’s “Pu-pa,” that is, the bride’s mother’s brother (uncle). He therefore receives the prices Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 18.

Aw-rua-baw-na Rs. 5/- Beer pot (Ra-cha). Rs. 50/- One Mithan. Gun. 13

Nô-hla Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 10/- Beer pot (Ra-cha). 14

Saw-hla Rs. 1/- Full grown hen. Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). 15

Kei-ma Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 5/- Beer pot (Ra-cha). 16 No. 16 has to be paid to the friend of the “Pu-pa” (bride’s uncle).

Lao-khyu Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 5/- Beer pot. (Ra-cha). 17 No. 17 has to be paid to the bride’s grandmother’s brother on her mother’s side (bride’s great uncle), or it is sometimes paid the “Pu-pa’s” (bride’s uncles) wife’s father (father of aunt by marriage on the mother’s side).

Pha-vaw. a U-thei-pa Rs. 7/- A “Sisa” bead. Rs. 20/- A “Sisa” bead. 18

a Lia-pa Rs 2/- Brass pot (4 spans). Rs. 10/- A “Sisa” bead.

a Sei-hnai-pa Rs. 1/- A large fowl. Rs. 2/- Brass pot (4 spans).

DEATH DUE.4

Ru Rs. 10/- or more. Gong. This price is often nearly as heavy as the “O-kia.” Rs. 80/- or more. One Mithan (large). This price is often nearly as heavy as the “O-kia.” 19 At the death of a wife this price has to be paid as a death due by the husband to the dead wife’s father or eldest brother as the case may be. At the death of a husband the eldest son of the dead man has to pay the price to his father’s mother’s brother (the dead man’s uncle). If there is no son, the dead man’s brother will pay, and then the dead man’s daughters, when they marry, their marriage prices will go to this brother of the dead man (his nieces’ marriage prices). If there are no daughters then he has his dead brother’s possessions as a recompense, and he will also care for the widow unless she prefers to go to her own family once again.