MARRIAGE CUSTOMS 157 



and zealously guarded by the ladies of the harem, as, 

 according to Malay custom, a tax is levied before 

 the bridegroom can gain admission to his bride. We 

 were all, therefore, invited to help pay the tax, and 

 many were the dollars, gold pieces, and notes thrown 

 over the door to the eager sirens within. By this means 

 door after door was opened to us ; one door only 

 remained, but, alas ! the funds of the whole company 

 had become entirely exhausted, the only remaining coin 

 that could be found being a bad dollar, which had been 

 palmed off on me by a wily Chinaman the day before. 

 However, it answered well enough, and the remaining 

 door was passed ; but we found that a more exciting 

 part of the performance was yet to come. 



At the top of the stairs stood the bride, but between 

 her and the attacking male party were at least a 

 hundred ladies. Through these we had to force our 

 way, and eventually, very hot and exhausted, we reached 

 the bride and handed her over to the bridegroom, who 

 was placed upon a magnificently gilded couch to again 

 receive the congratulations of his guests." 



