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usually takes place at midnight or in the early hours of the morning in the temple or in the house, with the object of informing the ancestors. Being ancestor worship, which can be performed only by males, the girl remains at home out of the way and no members of her family may be present. A large sieve, usually of bamboo, is placed on the ground. In the centre of it, the bridegroom stands on a rice measure (tau), with red cloths draped over his left and right shoulders. He wears a felt hat with silver flowers round it or a feather. In olden times, a Chinese tall hat was worn but, when this fell out of fashion, the felt hat was adopted as the most respectable of modern headgear. The feather represented the old Imperial custom of presenting a feather to the best scholars.
(d) Shortly after this ceremony, and on the same day, comes the actual wedding, which is known as the crowning, when relatives and friends of both families are invited. Relations are given cups of tea by the bridal couple. The important feature is that the marriage dates from this ceremony, not from the time of entry of the sam p'o tsai into her new family, although a girl will sometimes say that she was married, for instance, at the age of 6.
(e) There is no traditional requirement for the sam p'o tsai to marry the son. I dealt with several cases where the girl declined marriage and the parties agreed to separate. Brought up in a brother and sister relationship, the boy and girl may lack the right approach to marriage.
9. Customary Agricultural Leases
(a) In the absence of a written agreement to the contrary, leases of agricultural land are normally on an annual basis, starting in the early part of the year. Payment of rent may be in cash or in 'kuk' (*) either in one lump sum or after each of the two rice harvests. Most leases are verbal.
(b) It is common practice for members of the lessee's family to take over his lease in the event of his death. Acceptance of rent by the lessor in these cases implies recognition of the new lessee.