SUMATRA. 
the demand for the commodity, as a merchant would exprefs tt, is en- 
creafed, and the price of courfe enhanced. Fn Europe on the contrary, 
where the demand is fmall ; whether owing to the paucity of males from 
continual diminution ; their coldnefs of conftitution, which fuffers them 
to pi ay rather with the fentimental, than att from the animal paflion 
their corruption of manners, leading therti to promifcuous concubinage ; 
or in fine^ the extravagant luxury of the times, which renders a family 
an infupportablc burthen ; — whatever may be the caufe, it becomes ne- 
celTary, in order to counteract it^ and produce an additional incitement 
tO" the marriage ftate, that a premium hf given with the females. We 
find in the hiftory of the earlieft ages of the world, that where a plura- 
lity of women was allowed of, by law or cuftom, they were obtained by 
money or fervice. The form of marriage by Scmimdo^ among the Ma- 
lays^ which admits but of one partner, requires no fum to be paid by 
the hufband to the relations of the wife, except a trifle, by way of token, 
or to defray the expences of the wedding feaft. The circumflance of the 
Rejangs confining themfelves to one, and at the fame time giving a price 
for their wives, would feem an exception to the general rule laid down ; 
but this is an accidental, and perhaps tempoTai7 reftraint, arifmg, it may 
be, from the European influence, which tends to make them regular and 
induftrious, but keeps them poor : afibrds the means of fubfiftence to 
all, but the opportunity of acquiring riches to few or none. In thek 
genuine ftate, war and phmder caufed a rapid fiuiftation of property i the 
little wealth now among them, derived moftly from the India Company's 
expenditure, circulates through the country in an eqtial ftream, returning 
chiefly, like the water exhaled in vapors from the fea, to its original 
fource. The cuftom of giving joojoors, had moft probably, its founda- 
tion in polygamy ; and the fuperll rupture fubfiils, though its bafis has 
partly mouUlered away ; but being fcarcely tenantable, the inhabitants 
are inclined to quit, and fuffer it to fall to the ground. Moderation in 
point of women deftroying their principle, the joojoors appear to be de- 
void of policy* Open a new fpring of luxury, and polygamy now con- 
fined to a few individuals amongftrhe chiefs, will fpread throughout the 
people. Beauty will be in high requeft ; each fair one will be fought 
O o o for 
