If a Man has a reason to part with his Wife he informs her of it to which she mostly agrees, deeming it reproachful to remain after such notice; he then Devides all His Goods and Chatties with her, and she leaves him and takes the Female Children with her leaving him the Males. If she lives single she always Claims the rights of a Wife, and tho they do not Cohabit, always look on each other as Friends and Apply to each other for any little property which at any Future period of their seperation they may stand in need of and each enjoys their own estate but should they Choose to live together after such seperation it lies at their own option and they may return to each other at any time. If the Woman takes an other husband she relinquishes all claim to her rights in her first Husband, and Can demand No More of Him but Her own estate and her part of the Goods as before discribed.

If a Man finds his Neighbour, or one who is not his adopted Friend in the Act of Adultry with his Wife he has the Law in His own Hands and may if He thinks proper put One or both of them to Death with impunity or punnish His wife with Stripes, and Plunder the House of the Offender; the latter is the Most Common but I have known two Men killd, who were taken in the Fact, and no further enquirey made then the Acknowledgement of the partys present to Certify the Fact.

Their Marriages are no other then an agreement between the Partys and their Friends, and tho the Young are uncontrouled, they Generally take the Advice of their parents and Friends; which being setled, they Join and are Calld Man & Wife without Ceremony, except the Greeting of their Friends who present them with Hogs, Cloth and Sundry Necessary Articles. If the Woman is a Virgin Her Friends Must perform an Amoa (a Ceremony to be hereafter described) to their New Son in law before the Males of her Family Can Eat any provisions with Him, or that He has toutch’d. The Young Man exchanges Names with Us Father in law, and the Woman with Her Mother in law; if she has had a Husband before, the Exchange of Names and presents is the only Necessary Ceremony. The Husband then Claims his Wifes Posessions, which are delivered to him without reserve, and they Having Houses on

Indigenous Histories