, even of the women, who
form in groups to sing in chorus a compliment, more or less
sincere, in which they say: 'They dance with the grace of birds
when they fly. They dance as the hawk flies; it is lovely to
see.' They sing and dance both at weddings and at other
festivals." (Elio Modigliani, _Un Viaggio a Nias_, 1890, p. 549.)

In Sumatra Marsden states that chastity prevails more, perhaps,
than among any other people: "But little apparent courtship
precedes their marriages. Their manners do not admit of it, the
_boojong_ and _geddas_ (youths of each sex) being carefully kept
asunder and the latter seldom trusted from under the wings of
their mothers.... The opportunities which the young people have
of seeing and conversing with each other are at the _birnbangs_,
or public festivals. On these occasions the young people meet
together and dance and sing in company. The men, when determined
in their regard, generally employ an old woman as their agent, by
whom they make known their sentiments, and send presents to the
female of their choice. The parents then interfere, and the
preliminaries being settled, a _birnbang_ takes place. The young
women proceed in a body to the upper end of the _balli_ (hall),
where there is a part divided off for them by a curtain. They do
not always make their appearance before dinner, that time,
previous to a second or third meal, being appropriated to
cock-fighting or other diversions peculiar to men. In the evening
their other amusements take place, of which the dances are the
principal. These are performed either singly or by two women, two
men, or with both mixed. Their motions and attitudes are usually
slow, approaching often to the lascivious. They bend forward as
they dance, and usually carry a fan, which they close and strike
smartly against their elbows at particular cadences.... The
assembly seldom breaks up before daylight and these _birnbangs_
are often continued for several days together. The young men
frequent them in order to look out for wives, and the lasses of
course set themselves off to the best advantage. They wear their
best silken dresses, of their own weaving, as many ornaments of
filigree as they possess, silver rings upon their arms and legs,
and ear-rings of a particular construction. Their hair is
variously adorned w