SOCIAL CUSTOMS* 105 ' 
Irowever, are rarely attended with blootlshed, and even 
the sufferers themselves admit that their property is never 
appropriated^ although it is sometimes much injured by 
he rough manner in which it is buodlcd into their boats, 
if they are so unfortunate as to incur displeasure. 
"It is certainly worthy of remark that these simple 
Alfoers, without the hope of reward or fear of punishment 
after death (Mr. KolfF here alludes to the ignorance of 
the Armans respecting & futiu-e state), live in such peace 
and brotherly love with one another, and that they recog- 
nize the right of [nx)peii:y in the fullest sense of the word, 
without their being any other authority among them than 
the decisions of their elders, according to the customs of 
their forefathers, which are held in the highest regard. 
During my stay among them, I never perceived the least 
discord, either among themselves or with their neighbours 
in the adjacent villages, which one would suppose might 
naturally take place from the clashing of interests in the 
trepang fishery, or from their appetite for strong drink. 
This last is the chief, if not the sole vice which exists 
among them. 
" No Alfoer can take unto himself a wife until he has 
delivered the marriage present, which consists of ele- 
phants' teeth, brass gongs, cloth, &c. This is not usually 
all paid at once, but by instalments during several years. 
A father, who has many daughters, becomes a rich man 
by the presents which he receives on their marriage. If 
a young man wishes to marry, and is possessed of nothing, 
it often occurs that he makes a voyage of a year's duration 
among the other islands ; and making known his pm'pose, 
demands contributions from those he visits to enable hiin 
F 3 
