There were two kinds of marriage in Oma--elopment, and by family arrangement.

ELOPMENT:

Upon leaving the house, the groom leaves a letter under the pillow of the
bride.  The bride must wait for the groom at a neighbor's house.

A gun is discharged when the bride arrives at the groom's house as a signal of
success.  The bride's family then realizes their daughter is missing,and finds
the note under her pillow.  A fight generally ensues,in which guns are not
usually used. Swords are used.  A long fued takes place after this, sometimes
followed by an apology from the relatives of the groom.  Sometimes even this
apology does not bring a pardon from the family of the bride. But they usually
mellow when presented with grandchildren.

LEGAL MARRIAGE:

With the groom's consent, his parents would come calling on those of the bride
TO GET ACQUAINTED.  Then the groom's parents would either go to the parents of
the bride to request her hand, or else they would write a very long and
submissive letter requesting the bride from each member of her family in turn.
If the response was favorable, the groom was allowed to live with the bride at
her home until such time as (in the old days) the Dutch controlleur arrived.
Then a mass marriage would be held.  The local raja could not perform marriage
ceremonies.

Meantime, if a child had been born at the home of the bride, it would become
the possession of the family of the bride.  It would have to be redeemed if
the new couple wished to bring it with them to the groom's home. It was
generally believed that if the child were not redeemed,it would die.  The
redemption payment consisted usually of a roll of cloth and a flask of Genifei
gin (jenefer).

The bride price was the same.  In the old days, people seldom used money, but
had to scrounge up the goods.

Before the bride was allowed to depart for the groom's house, the relatives of
the groom had to address the relatives of the bride in the old language.  This
performance sometimes lasted a full night.  The bride's relatives would
pretend not to allowthe groom to take her home.  This was partly in fun, but
could be serious, because the bride's relatives were able to make demands upon
those of the groom at this time.

The bride's family had to reciprocate by presenting each of the groom's
sisters, without regards to marital status, with a sarong and kabaya.  And
they usually presented each of his brothers with a sarong or a ring.

The bride was then sent off with her dowry.  Bed, sago, canarium nuts, plates,
etc. The edible part of her dowry was called the "laloloperi". The idea was so
that she wouldn't have to beg for anything from her in-laws.

When the bride was brought to the groom's house, a great feast and celebration
were held.  The gifts were distributed.