A SCIENTIFIC MISSION TO CAMBODIA. 



321 



Like all people who have struggled for existence through centuries, 

 the Cambodians rigorously preserve their usages. It appears that as the 

 power of a nation declines, and its means of defending itself against 

 foreigners become less effective, the people feel the need of establish- 

 ing a rallying-point for their nationality, and find it in their institu- 

 tions ; and these they learn to cherish all the more as a memorial of 

 the time of their national glory. Numerous old customs are preserved 

 in this way in Cambodia. Perhaps the most interesting of them are 

 those which relate to betrothals and marriasre. Betrothals sometimes 



Statue op the Leprous King, Founder of Angkor Wat. 



take place at a very early age ; but in case the parents have not entered 

 into any engagement, and the young man has made his own choice, 

 he addresses a woman whose business it is to attend to such matters, 

 and employs her to sound the heart of his chosen girl and the dispo- 

 sition of her family. If his overtures are accepted, he visits the house 

 of the young woman, making his salutations at the foot of the stairs 

 and at the top, and explains the object of his visit to her parents. 

 vol. xxx. — 21 



