Concluded 
by payment of 
the marriage 
fee. 
Facts inva- 
lidating an en- 
gagement, 
SO REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. 
received, a betrothal hinted at. Take it that the prospec- 
tive brother-in-law is acquainted: the suggestion is well 
received: the match is openly discussed. Then a token 
is given—taking the form of a ring. The ring is equiva- 
lent to a definite proposal : if the proposal is accepted the 
ring is taken, it is returned if the proposal is refused. 
Let us suppose it is accepted, and accepted authoritatively. 
Another ring seals the compact: a formal agreement is 
made, to be fulfilled commonly in 7 days, at the outside 
in 14 days, at the least in two days, running on to three. 
Let us suppose the period is 7 days: no slight fault invali- 
dates the contract, but outrageous behaviour renders it 
void. The agreement is made, it is publicly announced, 
in due time it is fulfilled. Let us take it as fulfilled :-— 
you are bidden by the relatives of your betrothed to 
conclude the compact. You must first pay the marriage 
fee in public, speaking these words :—Here it is, I waste 
no words: ag the phrase goes, Lift the leaf, and take the 
marrow.” * 
The amount of the marriage fee varies with the tribe.” 
Until the year 1906, a fee of “ twenty” meant twenty rupia, 
(20 x 36 cents-$7.20) but the Undang and chiefs agreed in 
that year to substitute the dollar for the vupza as the unit. 
The normal fee at present is therefore $20.00. 
The procedure described above refers to the conventional 
marriage of a virgin, arranged by the relations on either side: 
The marriage of a widow or divorcee is a far more prosaic event, 
may be concluded immediately on acceptance of the suitor, 
and involved, formerly, a fee of only 12 rupia ($4.32). 
The engagement, in either case, may be broken if the 
suitor 1s insane, leprous, impotent, or lost to sense of shame, 
when the marriage fee is returned by the bride’s relations. 
(1) The custom of Tunggu Adat—the vigil of the groom at the 
bride’s house consequent on the payment of the marriage fee is not 
observed in Rembau, though practised in the neighbouring state of 
Naning. 
(2) For list of fees payable in each tribe vide appendix IT. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
