most proper to have but one wife. The children of the secondary wives, though legally married, are subordinate to those of the true wife. Though the laws prohibit marriages within the first degree of consanguinity, they may marry first cousins or sisters in succession. The kings of Siam however would marry their sisters, without any regard to this law, if they preferred them. Divorces are seldom practised unless among the common people; but this accommodation is equally open to both sexes, and all difficulties are regularly removed; the mother is entitled to the first, third, fifth, and every odd child; whence the latter in an odd number would have one more than her husband. The power of the husband is so despotic over his family, that he may dispose of all his wives except the first. The widows possess the same right, but they cannot sell the children of the even numbers. After a divorce, each party may put up to sale the children which fall to either by lot. Adultery is a vice but few are guilty of; indeed they are so secluded from public life, from intercourse with men, and afraid of the murderous revenge the husband is legally permitted to execute on the detection of infidelity, it is no wonder they are punctual to their nuptial engagements. At Patana, if a woman be surprised in adultery, she is indulged by her relations with naming her own death, which is commonly strangulation:-the adulterer also undergoes as severe a punishment, if similarly guilty, being stabbed to the heart. The ladies of Siam seldom go abroad, but, when they do, their faces are unveiled, and they are attended by their female slaves. The ancient and modern history of the East furnishes us with numerous instances of their dying by the hands of their husbands rather than become captives, and be subject to the lawless embraces of an enemy. This principle of conjugal inseparability is carried to the greatest excess in Hindostan, where useless sacrifices of life are made to the manes of dead husbands. The secondary wives and children of a Siamese are at the mercy of the first wife, who with her children became joint inheritors of the husband's property; they retain only what he gives these unfortunates with his own hands, for a Siamese makes no last will and testament as we do; hence the daughters of the secondary wives become secondary wives themselves. Unlike the children of European parents, a son who should presume to go to law with his father or mother would be looked upon as a monster. Interest there never breaks the bonds of family friendship, and theft and beggary are equally infamous at Siam. As soon as the children are eight or nine years old, they are sent to the convents of the Talapoins to be instructed. HINDOSTAN. THE Bramins are the priests of India, and such as have sons endeavour to marry them betimes, as early as their sixth year; nor does he go to demand a young woman in marriage for his son without the deepest regard to prognostics.-The future father-in-law having approved of the young man, before he can marry the daughter he must pay a certain sum over and above the bargain, for they would feel a repugnance at having it thought that they sold their daughters.-The time of the nuptials being fixed, the agreement is made before witnesses, the bride's father gives betel to the bridegroom's relations, and the ceremony is concluded. When the time for consummation arrives, the Bramin lights the sacred fire called Homam, and the bridegroom throws three handfuls of rice on the bride's head, who returns the compliment. Afterwards the bride's father clothes her in a dress according to his condition, and washes the bridegroom's feet, the bride's mother observing to pour out the water. This being done, the father places his daughter's hand in his own, puts water into it, some pieces of money, and, giving it to the bridegroom, says at the same The time, I have no longer any thing to do with you, and I give you up to the power of another. Tali, which is a ribbon with a golden head hanging at it, is held ready, and, being shewn to the company, some prayers and blessings are pronounced, after which the bridegroom takes it, and hangs it about the bride's neck. This knot is what particularly secures his possession of her; for, before he has tied the tali on, all the rest of the ceremonies might have been made to no purpose; for it has sometimes happened, that when the bridegroom was going to fix it on, the bride's father has discovered his not being satisfied with the bridegroom's gift, when another offering more has carried off the bride with her father's consent. But when once the tali is put on, the marriage is indissoluble; and whenever the husband dies, the tali is burnt along with him, to shew that the marriage bands are broken. Besides these particular ceremonies, the people have notice of the wedding by a pandal, which is raised before the bride's door some days previous to the ceremony. whole concludes with an entertainment which the bride's father gives to the common friends; and during this festivity, which continues five days, alms are given to the poor, and the fire (homam) is kept in. The seventh day the new-married couple set out for the bridegroom's house, whither they frequently go by torch-light. The bride and The bridegroom are carried in a sedan, pass through the chief streets of the city, and are accompanied by their friends, who are either on horseback, or mounted on elephants. In case the bride is not of an age fit for consummating the marriage, her relations dont leave her above three or four days in her husband's house, after which she is brought back to that of her father; but if she have arrived at puberty, she stays with her husband. Incest is one of the five great sins, and the laws of consanguinity are nearly the same as with us. Polygamy is allowed to a Bramin, but if his wife prove incontinent, and the circumstance be known, the other Bramins consider the house as polluted; the injunction may be easily removed by making a feast, when the adulteress waits on the Bramins and Sansjasiis; if they receive the victuals from her hands, the Bramin may then keep his wife without any discredit. The Nairs, or noblemen, have peculiar privileges. Though they never marry indeed, yet, to recompence that misfortune, they have a right to demand the last favour from any maid or wife whatever, when it suits with their inclination. Nobody, not even the husband, interrupts their private interviews; but, on the contrary, the good man, as a testimony of his satisfaction, and in gratitude for the honour done him, stands centinel himself till the Nair thinks proper to take his de |