Re: Heortling Marriage, Courtship, Bridewealth

From: Thom Baguley <t.s.baguley_at_...>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 14:08:46 +0000


> From: David Dunham <david_at_...>
>
>Except that wergild is supposed to be set high enough to discourage
>killings (and require your kin to help pay, to further help
>discourage killings). You want to *encourage* marriage, so
>bride-price/dowry should be a bit lower. (I'm not as big a believer
>in service as you are, I think. The new couple are supposed to be
>productive members of the husband's bloodline; if he's spending all
>his time serving his wife's kin he can't be supporting his wife very
>well.)

However, in most clans there will be people falling over themselves to help you marry. The chief will probably gift or lend you half. Many clans may well have specific customs for this. The chief gifts 7 cows, the Ernalda priestess 3 cows and so on. I agree that service might be less common.

Thom

Powered by hypermail