Payments of cash, cattle, pigs, or shell ornaments between grooms and in-laws are

This is considered a dowry. A dowry is a transfer of parental property, gifts or money at the marriage of a daughter. Dowry is an ancient custom, and its existence may well predate records of it. Dowries continue to be expected, and demanded as a condition to accept a marriage proposal, in some parts of the world, mainly in parts of Asia, Northern Africa and the Balkans.