ABSTRACT
The people of Atany are all aware of important events in the lives of the other villagers. Information of certain types of events spreads rather slowly and does not draw much attention, but other kinds of news spread rapidly and are of great interest to everyone. It may be two weeks before word of the birth of a baby reaches every house, but news of a wedding is spread much more quickly, and of a death most quickly of all. A wedding celebration naturally involves two families and their kin groups. But the neighborhoods are also involved to such an extent that the whole population of the village is divided into two groups: the wedding party, those who are “fortunate” because “they eat with a big spoon”; and the others, who watch the activities but are required by decency to stay away.
