1835.] Island of Rambree on the Arracan Coast. 37 



inability to enforce a compliance with the restriction she wishes to im- 

 pose, the elder wife usually signifies her readiness to receive into the 

 family a second helpmate for her husband. This new alliance is sel- 

 dom resorted to before the first wife shall have ceased to retain the 

 charms of her youth, and have become incapable of performing the 

 several domestic duties incumbent upon her. 



The system of betrothing children to each other at a very early age, 

 so common with natives of India, does not obtain with the Arracanese. 

 Instances will occur when their marriage has been the result of a pre- 

 concerted arrangement on the part of the parents so soon as the 

 female shall have attained the age of maturity (15 years), and not 

 preceded by mutual attachment of the parties united. The young 

 people are not, however, unfrequently, permitted to form their own 

 choice, and where no great disparity of age exists, the consent of the 

 parents is generally obtained. As there is no seclusion of the females 

 there can be no want of opportunity for the display of those little atten- 

 tions, which in the eyes of the female sex distinguish a lover from a 

 mere observer. The lifting of a pitcher from the well or tank to his mis- 

 tress's head, or the present of a bouquet of early flowers to adorn her 

 hair, are but few of the many ways by which the passion of her lover 

 is exemplified. Should such attention be pleasing to the fair one, she will 

 probably intimate as much by the gift of a neatly madebundle of cheroots 

 manufactured by her own hand. The attachment between the parties 

 being known to their parents and their consent obtained, the astrologer 

 (Hoora-dye) , is consulted : the day, month and year of their children's 

 birth is made known to him, and if the result of his calculations are 

 favourable to the union, every thing is arranged for its completion. In 

 the first place, a present of a fine silk dress ; some gold and silver orna- 

 ments, with a little tea mixed up with spices, are sent to the young lady 

 by her lover, who will perhaps follow in the evening of the same day 

 preceded by the young unmarried men of the village : these advancing 

 before him as he approaches the house of his intended bride, extend to 

 the right and left, and oppose his further progress until he has satis- 

 fied them with as many rupees as he can afford to lose. He now draws 

 near to the threshold of his mistress's house. She, on her part, is at- 

 tended by the young maidens of the village, and these oppose his 

 entrance to the dwelling until he has paid a fine similar to that imposed 

 upon him by his male companions. The lover now enters the house ; 

 and seated at his mistress's side, flowers and water are scattered over 

 both by the hands of the oldest and most respectable person present. 



This done, they both sit down to a meal prepared by the parents of 

 the girl, receiving the food from each other's hands. The meal ended, 



