With friendly shouts to Clarke, they acknowledged themselves beaten.

There were no judges required for this race, because the man who reached the bottle first won it.
The five men returned to the starting point, where the victor was greeted by loud whoops.

The groom got the first drink from the bottle, then came the attendants, and others in order, after which the bottle was put away to be kept as a memento of the occasion.
The party now repaired to the village and marched to the home of the bride.

The hour for the observance of the marriage rites was just before the midday meal.

When the groom reached the bride's home he found her in readiness.