[75] This attitude of reverencing the priestesses as rain-destroyers is in curious contrast with that of certain African tribes (e.g. the Dinkas and Shilluks, according to Dr. Seligman), with whom the king--who is also chief priest--is called “rain-maker”; this difference of point of view of course being due to difference of climatic conditions. [76] The resemblance of certain members of the Yami tribe to the Papuans--such as those of the Solomon Islands--has already been noted (p. 103). [77] See frontispiece. CHAPTER VIII MARRIAGE CUSTOMS The Point of View of the Aborigines regarding Sex--Courtship preceding Marriage--Consultation of the Bird Omen and of Bamboo Strips as to the Auspicious Day for the Wedding--The Wedding Ceremony--Mingling by the Priestess of Drops of Blood taken from the Legs of Bride and Groom; Ritual Drinking from a Skull--Honeymoon Trips and the setting-up of House-keeping--Length of Marriage Unions. Turning from the subject of religious observances to that of marriage customs, one finds the same close association between the two in Formosa as in other lands. Indeed, the association is more close than in countries like England and America, or present-day Russia; since among the aborigines of Formosa there exists no registry office or other place where a civil marriage can be performed. In Formosa marriage means always a religious ceremony, one demanding the presence of the most powerful priestess of the local group. In some cases, several priestesses take part in the ceremony. This is especially true of certain of the groups among the Taiyal tribe, or nation. Among those tribes, including the Taiyal, that have come least into touch with alien culture--Chinese, Japanese, or European--the religious side of the marriage ceremony seems to consist largely in purificatory rites--rites which tend to neutralize, as it were, the difference between the sexes. Sex is, to the aborigines of Formosa--as to many primitive peoples,--a thing of mystery, and one fraught with danger--danger not only to the man and woman chiefly concerned, but also to the tribal group, or whole tribe. The welfare or “ill-fare” of the tribal unit is a consideration which seems always taken into account, even in connection with matters which people at a different stage of evolution would regard as being purely personal and private; these primitive folk being in some respects practical socialists, in spite of the fact that they are under the domination of a theocracy. Before going on to speak in detail of the marriage ceremony, it may be well to say a few words in regard to the courtship which precedes it.