ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

ai8 S U M A- T R A.
Modes- of Marriage, and cujloms relative thereto—Fefthals—*
Polygamy.
flutncin S g 01|lhe JÖY much the greater number of the legal difputes, among thefe people,
«r^'fome ^f nave ^^ f° urce m the intricacy attending their marriage contracts. In
their marriage moft uncivilized countries, thefe matters are very fimple, the dictates of
nature being obeyed, or the calls of appetite fatisfied, with little ceremony,
or form of convention; but with the Sumatrans, the difficulties
both precedent and fubfcquent, are encreafed to a degree unknown even
in the moft refined ftates. To remedy thefe inconveniences, which might
be fuppofed to deter men from engaging in marriage, was the view of
the Refidcnt of Laye, beforementioned, who prevailed upon them to
Amplify their engagements, as the means of preventing litigation between
families, and of encreafing the population of the country. How far his
liberal views will be anfwered, by having thus influenced the people to
change their cuftoms; whether they will not foon relapfe into the an^
cient track; and whether, in fact, the caufe that he fuppofes, did actually
contribute to retard population, I fhall not pretend to determine ;
but as the laft is a point on which a difference of opinion prevails, I fhall
take the liberty of quoting here, the fentiments of another fervant of
the Company, who poffeffes an underftanding highly enlightened.*
Reafonsagainft " This part of the ifland is in a low flate of population, but it is an er-
* a ter3tlon ' ror to afcribe this to the mode of obtaining wives by purchafe. The circumftance
of children conftituting part of the property of the parents,
proves a moft powerful incentive to matrimony, and there is not perhaps
any country on the face of the earth, where marriage is more general
than here, inftances of perfons of either fex paffing their lives in a ftate
of celibacy, being extremely rare. The neceffity of purchafing, does
• Mr. John Crifp.
not