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Customary Laws

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Customary law is a set of rules that are observed consistently and uniformly over a long period of time. It is the totality of a tribe's customs that are passed down from one generation to the next.

Here are some customary laws of the Rongmei:

  1. The bride's family brings a large rooster to the groom's house for the wedding ceremony.
  2. The Rongmei are a patriarchal society with many exogamous clans.
  3. Only male members can inherit property.
  4. The youngest son usually inherits the family home.
  5. Husbands and wives cannot belong to the same clan.

The Rongmei women play an important role in their church and society, but they are not given the status they deserve.

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