NATIVES CUSTOMS 49 



for the little Cocos boy than for his Avestern brother, for it 

 consists in a sudden change from nakedness to the wearing 

 of the fully developed garments of manhood. He loses too 

 his happy privilege of bathing in a state of nature, for no 

 Cocos man or woman ever thinks of entering the water un- 

 clothed, and no more modest race exists than the dignified 

 Malay. 



The boy now turns out to work with the men, and takes 

 his part in all the business of the island as a fully grown 

 member of society. 



He is now free to marry, but he generally waits until he 

 is some years older, for it has been the wise policy of the 

 Governor to attempt to put a stop to very early marriages 

 among the people. The youngest bride that I knew of was a 

 girl named Denning, who married at twelve, and the youngest 

 bridegroom one Tarie, who was fifteen years old : but',notwith- 

 standing the disfavour in Avhich early marriage is held, Cocos 

 has had the honour of possessing a grandmother at the early 

 age of twentv-eight. 



The wedding is the grandest of all the island ceremonies. 

 and the whole festivity is a long-protracted affair, and one in 

 which much polite etiquette is essential. When two people 

 fall in love, it is not the custom for the intending^ bridegroom 

 to propose to the lady, but all the negotiations are carried out 

 by his father with due formalities. The betrothal is arranged 

 by the young man's father calling upon the parents of the 

 maiden and offering a present — the Mas kcaven — which is 

 generally of gold, and usually nowadays takes the shape of 

 English sovereigns. If the match is pleasing to the girl's 

 parents the present is accepted, and the pair are considered as 

 engaged, and they proceed to set about the preparations for 

 their marriage. 



Should one of the parents of the intended bride be dead, 

 a strange custom is practised : upon the day before that 

 fixed for the wedding the young couple go to the grave of the 

 dead parent, and announce the fact that they are betrothed, so 

 that the spirit of the departed one may be a party to their 



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