ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

HÈ S U M A T R A .
with a more favored fwain, and fecures a match of her own choice.
This practice, ftyled telarree gaddees, is not the leaft common way of
determining a marriage, and from a fpirit of indulgence and humanity,
which few codes can boaft, has the fandtion of the laws. The father
has only the power left, of dictating the mode of marriage, but cannot
take his daughter away, if the lover is willing to comply with the cuftom
in fuch cafes. The girl muft be lodged, unviolated, in the houfe
of fome refpeclable family, till the relations are advifed of the enlevement,
and fettle the terms. If however, upon immediate purfuit, they are
overtaken on the road, Ihe may be forced back, but not after Are has
taken fanctuary.
By the Mofaic law, if a man left a widow, without children, his brother
was to marry her. Among the Sumatrans, with or without children,
the brother, or neareft male relation of the deceafed, unmarried,
(the father excepted) takes the widow. This is practifed both by
Malays and country people. The brother, in taking the widow to himfelf,
becomes anfwerable for what may remain due of her purchafe money,
and in every refpect reprefents the deceafed. This is phrafed£«»#c
ieecar, bantal'nia—placing himfelf on his mat and pillow.
Chaftity of the Chaftity prevails more perhaps among thefe than any other people.
women. j t -1S fQ materially the intereft of the parents to preferve the virtue of
their daughters unfullied ; as they conftitnte the chief of their fubftance ;
that they are particularly watchful in this refpect. But as marriages in
general do not take place fo early, as the forwardnefs of nature, in that
climate, would admit, it will fometimes happen, notwithstanding their
precaution, that a young woman not chufing to wait her father's pleafure,
taftes the fruit by Health. When this is difcoverèd he can oblige the
man to marry her, and pay the joojoor; or if he chufes to keep
his daughter, the feducer muft make good the difference he has occafioned
in her value, and alfo pay the fine, called tippong boomee, for removing
the ftain from the earth. Proflitution for hire is, I think, unknown
in the country, and confined to the more polite Malay bazars,
where
•