2. Another interesting point about the _Pirrauru_, is that no consent of the parties is asked.[319] But this appears, according to other data, to hold strictly good only as far as the woman is concerned. For we are told[320] in another place that a woman's wishes are not taken into account unless through the mediation of her husband. Hence it seems that on one side a man's wishes may be taken into account, and on the other side a man may even dispose of his own wife. This points to the fact that a husband's consent or mediation when his wife is concerned may be of some weight. The same conclusion results from the fact (already noticed by Mr. Thomas in this connection) that two men may eventually exchange their wives in connection with the _Pirrauru_ custom.[321] All this appears quite plausible if we bear in mind that[322] the old men keep the greatest number of females for themselves--at least all the most comely ones. And that these very men have afterwards the right of disposing of their wives. They will, on the one hand, exchange some of the females with each other; on the other hand, they will allot perhaps some of their wives to one or another of the young men living in celibacy. In fact, we read that very often old and renowned warriors give their wives to some youngster, who regards it as a great honour.[323] In conclusion it appears probable that the man had a voice in the choice of his _Pirrauru_ or had not, according to his personal influence. As to the woman, it was her husband's part to decide, or at least to influence the opinion of the camp council. But statements are not clear on this point, and we are left here to a great extent to our own conjectures. [319] _J.A.I._, xx. p. 56. [320] Howitt, _Nat. Tr._, pp. 181, 187. [321] _Ibid._, pp. 181, 182, 187. [322] See below, pp. 255 _sqq._ [323] Howitt says, explicitly (_Nat. Tr._, p. 184), that "the leading men in the tribe have usually more Tippa Malku and _Pirrauru_ wives than other men." The Pinnaru, Jalina Piramurana had over a dozen wives, and to get one of them as _Pirrauru_ was a great honour for a man. 3. From the foregoing, it results that the husband still retains some over-right and control over his wife. And that is a very important point. For in the light of this fact, the waiving of sexual privileges connected with the _Pirrauru_ custom does not appear to encroach any more on the husband's right to his wife than the custom of wife-exchange or wife-lending. This fact of the necessity of the husband's consent is confirmed by Howitt's explicit statement. We read[324] that a man has right of access to his _Pirrauru_ only during the absence of her husband or, if the latter were present in camp, only with his consent. It is evident, therefore, that the husband's rights are by no means annihilated or superseded by the _Pirrauru's_ rights. He waives his rights voluntarily, and his consent is essential.