1832.] ^ po ADAM, ■ 129 
In common with the custom of the country, among those who 
can afford it, it appears Adam had indulged in a plurality of wives ; 
but had it not been for Mr. Barry, who knew the fact, he would 
have impressed all present with the belief that he had but one. 
Within a twelvemonth past one of his wives had died, and instead 
of contracting other aUiances, he pretended that the only one now 
remaining lived with him in the fort. When questioned how this 
could be possible, as he had frequently been seen putting up Httle 
packages with great care, and sending them to a female in Acheen 
by the coasting vessels — this was bringing the subject too close 
for Adam to escape, and he frankly acknowledged that such was 
the fact, and that he had another wife in the Imperial City. He 
laughingly admitted that it was a very impolite and bad custom,^ 
and that if one or two more were to die, he would most assuredly 
adopt the American system, and have but one. 
The reason, philosophy, and religion of Po Adam on this sub- 
ject, differed nothing from his whole sect, judging the plurality of 
wives a matter to be decided entirely by the rank of the person 
and his means to maintain them. Many of their marriage cus^ 
toms, laws, and festivities are curious, and worthy of being re- 
curred to in another chapter. For instance : " If a younger sister 
be first married, the husband pays six dollars, add at pelilloo^ 
for passing over the elder." Thus it would appear, that the cus- 
toms of occasionally selecting the younger, as practised in Chris- 
tian countries, is discouraged among the Sumatrans by a protect- 
ing duty in favour of the elder. 
Upon the whole, takmg all things into consideration, there 
seems to be much to interest one in the character of Po Adam ; 
and when we reflect, that besides his recent losses, he had not less 
than two thousand dollars worth of property on board the Friend- 
ship when captured, it would seem a matter of some regret that 
our government had not made him a present, though it had only 
been a gilded toy, as a testimony of their approbation of his 
conduct. 
It was thought he felt this, though he expressed no dissatisfac- 
tion, and seemed much pleased with his reception and treatment 
on board the Potomac. He received, however, a number of 
presents from the commodore and officers ; and there is no doubt 
that his feelings of friendship for the Americans were much 
I 
