the Western Border of India. 433
in the social laws that govern the society in which he had been placed.
Another subject that leads frequently to difficulties is that of exchanges. If a man requires a lady's hand in marriage, it may not be convenient for him to pay to the father a cash compensation. He may have, however, a sister, aunt, niece, or cousin under his control to exchange for the darling of his heart. Sometimes matters are arranged by a long series of exchanges. A gives to B, who gives to C, who gives to D, who gives to A. Occasionally something goes wrong with the chain. A betrothed girl dies, and much pow-wow and argumentation arise before the matter is readjusted to the satisfaction of the parties. But it will be readily seen that all young ladies are not of the same value. Apart from the mere trifling question of beauty, there is the question of age, for it is obvious that the damsel ready for matrimony is of more value than a little girl betrothed to be married to a little boy when the pair grow up. It therefore happens that exchanges are balanced with additional cash, or, if the position requires it, with a second girl. Now this leads on to great niceties, and occasionally to trouble. Thus, a Biloch of my acquaintance, one Brahim, arranged to exchange his daughter, of a marriageable age, for two girls yet to grow up, daughters of Nibahu. Formal betrothals were made and completed, and the time was coming for Brahim's daughter to be handed over when one of the little children of Nibahu died. At once old Brahim, whom I know in the flesh as a most truculent and obstinate old ruffian, demanded from Nibahu that he should substitute another girl for the deceased. The latter refused, saying that the betrothal of the two girls completed the transaction, and that it was practically Brahim's girl who had died. Brahim, on the other hand, held that his live daughter was worth two live exchanges, and he was going to get his two before he would give up his one. Nibahu and Brahim argued
and wrangled over this for years, and Brahim's poor daughter,
2 E
