1832.] ISLANB OF JAVA. 283 
monly half of their earnings apphcable for the purchase of httle 
comforts, for implements of agriculture, for clothing, and lodging. 
We have said that the marriage contract was liable to be dis- 
solved by certain contingences ; and perhaps there is no part of 
the world where divorces are more frequent than on the Island 
of Java. Whenever a woman becomes dissatisfied with her hus- 
band, she may demand a dissolution of the marriage contract, by 
paying him a sum established by custom, according to the rank of 
the parties ; say from twenty to fifty dollars. It is true, the hus- 
band is not bound to accept it ; but he is generally induced to do 
so from a consideration that the opinions and customs of the 
country require it ; that he could not be happy with a wife who 
disliked him, &c. &c. A widow may marry again' at the expira- 
tion of three months and ten days after the death of her husband. 
Polygamy is of course permitted in Java by their religion, but is 
not practised to any great extent. Pubhc opinion is opposed to 
it, and were it not, it is very seldom convenient for a man to have 
more than one wife at a time. 
The food of the Javans is very simple, being principally of a 
vegetable character, of which rice is the most prominent article. 
Still, however, fish, flesh, and fowl, are daily served up at their 
meals, according to the circumstances of the parties. They eat 
no amphibious animals, and abstain from pork, milk, butter, cheese, 
and spirituous liquors. They eat the flesh of the buffalo, the 
ox, the deer, the goat, and even the horse, when maimed or unfit 
for service. Salt is obtained in abundance throughout every part 
of the island, and sugar is made from the sap of the palm-trees, 
like the maple-sugar of our own country. In addition to these, 
they eat salted eggs, white ants, and various species of those 
worms which are so much esteemed by the Chinese, and are found 
in teak and other trees. The cooking utensils are of the most 
simple kind, being either of coarse pottery or copper. Rice is 
boiled or steamed ; Indian corn is roasted in the ear; and they 
have pastry and sweetmeats in profusion. They eat all their 
meals on the ground, which is covered with a mat for that pur- 
pose. They have but two meals a day, and sometimes a slight 
lunch in the morning. 
The amusements of the Javans are various, and all partake 
more or less of their national characteristic simplicity. They 
