•106 
ABRU ISLANDS. 
to make up ttc instalment of goods wMcli it is necessary 
to place in the hands of the parents* The ceremony of 
betrothing is celebrated by a feast, at which arrack forma 
a very necessary adjunct, 
"It is not lawful for a man to enter the house of a 
neighbour during his absence ; and if any one oflFends in 
this particular, lie is obliged to pay a piece of cloth, or 
some other goods, to the owner of the house. The sen- 
tence is passed by the elders, who openly call upon the 
offender to pay the fine, which makes him so ashamed 
that he either does so, or immediately leaves the viliage. 
This fine is called ' pakul dendc* by the natives. Should 
aiiy one even touch the wife of another, he must make a 
large atonement for the offence. The Macassar traders 
informed me that they were always obliged to watch their 
people narrowly, to keep them from approaching too near 
the married women, as the least touch would render them 
liable to a fine j and unless this was paid, the Alfoers 
would not be satisfied. 
They pride themselves touch in the possession of a 
number of elephants' tusks, and brass gongs ; the value 
of the first being determined according to their length, 
and of the latter by their weight and circumference. 
They formerly obtained these articles from the Banda 
traders, who themselves procured them from Batavia, 
Malacca, and Singapore. 
» i{c * 3{t 
"The following occurrence gives a remarkable proof of 
the mildness of their laws. An Alfoer, who had gone out 
fishing, intending to be absent eight days^ did not i*etum ; 
