Page 25 - Malay sketches

THE REAL MALAY

are still a rugged simplicity and untidiness, absolutely
devoid of all sense of order.
A Malay is allowed by law to have as many as
four wives, to divorce them, and replace them. If
he is well off and can afford so much luxury, he

usually takes advantage of the power to marry
more than one wife, to divorce and secure successors;
but he seldom undertakes the responsibility of four
wives at one time. The woman on her part can,
and often does, obtain a divorce from her husband.
" "
Written conditions of marriage, settlements of
a are common with in the
kind, people upper
and the law for the of
classes, provides custody
division of and so on. The
children, property,
ancient maiden lady is an unknown quantity, so is
the Malay public woman ; and, as there is no society
bugbear, the people lead lives that are almost
natural. There are no drunken husbands, no hob-
nail boots, and no screaming viragoes because a
word would get rid of them. All forms of mad-
ness, mania, and brain-softening are extremely rare.
The Malay has ideas on the subject of marriage,
ideas born of his infinite He has even
experience.
soared into of matrimonial and
regions philosophy,
returned with such crumbs of lore as never fall to
the poor monogamist.
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