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were seated side by side on a mat, and their garments knotted by a priest. The inevitable homily followed, and then a feast, and the couple observed a fast for four or more days, at the end of which the marriage might be consummated. In some cases a couple might live in concubinage by consent of their parents, and in the event of a child being born, either a marriage was celebrated or the woman returned to the house of her parents with the infant, which was regarded as belonging to her family. Otherwise children belonged to the man and inherited from him, those of the chief wife (for polygamy, limited by the man's means, was practised) having precedence. It was usual for the eldest son in these cases to make some provision for his brothers and their families. When a man married he left the educational establishment where he formerly lived, after asking permission of his superiors and making certain gifts. As a rule widows could not remarry, except with a brother-in-law; divorce was possible with the consent of a magistrate, and the couple could under no circumstances be reunited. Among the Otomi divorce was allowed after the first night of married life, but not later. The Chichimec practised monogamy, and no intermarriage could take place between individuals who were related. Among the Tarascans however, especially those of rank, different ideas prevailed, and endogamy was the rule. Even among commoners, if a girl had given herself to a man against the will of her parents, the union was regarded as legal only if he belonged to the same ward as herself. In normal cases the girl was simply handed over to her suitor by the priest, together with the gift of a wood-cutting axe and the necessary mats and cord for wood-carrying, and a feast followed. The difference between the marriage rules of the Tarascans and Aztec seems accompanied by another sociological divergence, in so far as there are indications that among the former the