Throughout all Micronesia and in many parts of Melanesia marriage implies the consent of the betrothed. The New Caledonian girl is thus always consulted; and, if forced to obey her parents, she takes the first opportunity to elope with the man of her choice.[699] In the New Britain group "after the man has worked for years to pay for his wife, and is finally in a position to take her to his house, she may refuse to go, and he cannot claim back from the parents the large sums he has paid them in yams, cocoanuts, and sugar-canes."[700] Betrothal by the guardian and self-marriage appear together in Burma. In the first case the daughter is given by her father in return for service and gifts. Her consent is not essential; but if she runs away from her husband more than three times, she is free, and her parents retain the gifts. In the second case the girl elopes without the guardian's consent, a recognized marriage relation being thus established, though the guardian may reclaim the bride. Should she, however, return thrice to her husband, she remains his legal wife.[701] "Among the Minahassers of Celebes courtship or love-making 'is always strictly an affair of the heart and not in any way dependent upon the consent or even wish of the parents.'"[702] The Rejang suitor of Sumatra elopes with the girl and pays the price afterwards; and such is often the case in Australia, among the uncivilized tribes of India, and throughout the Indian Archipelago. In all these cases, as well as among some of the Turanian peoples of central and northern Asia, the choice of the woman, even without elopement, is usually decisive, though often the arrangement of the marriage belongs legally to the parents.[703] [699] For these examples see WESTERMARCK, _op. cit._, 218, notes. [700] WESTERMARCK, _op. cit._, 218. According to KOHLER, "Studien," _ZVR._, V, 385, actual wife-capture still exists in the New Britain islands. "Es kommt vor, dass die Frau dem ersten Mann weggenommen wird und dass die Leiche des getödteten ersten Mannes das Hochzeitsmahl bildet."--POWELL, "Unter den Cannibalen," _Globus_ (1884), 328. [701] KOHLER, "Das Recht der Birmannen," _ZVR._, VI, 166, 168. [702] WESTERMARCK, _op. cit._, 219. [703] See WESTERMARCK, _op. cit._, 218-20, and the many examples there mentioned, with citation of the sources; and compare POST, _Familienrecht_, 166, 168, 169, _passim_; KOHLER, in _ZVR._, V, 354 ff.; WAKE, _op. cit._, 215, 216; PRJÉVALSKI, _Mongolie et pays des Tangoutes_ (1880), 47, 207; HUC, _Travels in Tartary_, I, 52, 185. For female choice in Australia: FISON AND HOWITT, _Kamilaroi and Kurnai_, 234, 242, 326, 327 (Kurnai); 276, 280, 289, 348-54 (elopement). The Kalmuck wife is a free woman: KOEHNE, "Das Recht der Kalmücken," _ZVR._, IX, 463; and WAKE gives interesting proofs of the coexistence of real affection with polygyny and purchase: _op. cit._, 218.