The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-04-03


Marriages in Csylon, as in other parts of
Asia, are contracted at an early age, for by
| the native laws male arrives at the digni-
| ~ of manhood when he has completed his
| sixteenth year; but should he give a prom
Use of marriage, or enter into a matrimonial
engagement without the consent of bis pa
rents before that period, such promise is
null and void. Until youth has completed
his sixteenth year he is under the authority
and guidance of his parents, being compen-
ed to perform and execute their lawful bid
dings and commands; but so soon as he is
of age he can throw off the yoke Of parent
al authority, and enter into engagements of
all descript ons. As soon as girl arrives
at maturity she is considered marriageahle,
and her parents Cor nearest relations, if she
he an orphaD) send betel leaves and invita-
tions to all their friends and acquaintance,
and feast is given proportonably great or
small, according to the entertainers means.
Naturally the young men are most eager
to obtain invitations to these feasts, espec-
tally when the young lady has the reputa-
tiOn of being either an heiress or beauty,
for self-nterest actuates all alike; and there
are not greater fortune hunters in Europe
than are to be met with in Asia.
The only disgusting circumstance connec-
ted with Kandian marriages is, that polyan-
dry is permitted and prac,ised to a great ex.
tent; and we have seen K Kandian matron,
of high caste, who was the wife of eight
husbands, who were brothers. We ex-
pressed ourselves most strongly to kandi-
an chief on this revolving custom, who ap-
peared surprised at the sentiments to which
we gave ntterance, saying, that he thought
it very good custom, as it prevented liti.
CATION, a subdivision Of property 10 wealthy
families, and concentrated family influence;
ne added that amongst the poor it was nee
essary, as it was impossible for each broth
er to maintain wife separately, and incur
the expense of family, which they could
easily do jointly. The offspring Of these
unhailowed marriages call all the brother
husbands father, aud inherit equally; but
should litigation arise concerning properly,
then the children claim the eldest brother as
their paternal parent, and the Kandian laws
recognize the claim. Although when poly
andry is INDUCED by the higher caste, the
husbands are usually brothers, still a man
can, with the consent Of his wife, bring
home another, unrelated to him, who has
all the marital rights, and is called an asso-
ciated husband. In fact, the first husband
can bring home as many as his wife will
consent to receive as husbands, and these
marriages are recognized by the Kandian
laws. The offspring of these horrible un-
ions are looked upon as the children of the
first husband, but they inherit equally the
property of the associated husbands; and it
is necessary to remark, that associated hus-
bands nre rarely met with among the high
caste Kandians, although high caste
woman is too frequently the wife of two or
more brothers. .r aif .u3
Some authors assert that polygamy is
prevalent in Ceylon; but during our resi-
dence in that island we never met with
Kandan or Cingalese who had, or acknowl-
edged wing, more than one wife. The
Mahomedans, or Moormen, certainly have
plurality Of wives, but they can hardly be
termed natives Of Ceylon, although their
forefathers settled there, as the Moormen
neither follow the national religion, costume
nor habits of the CingaIese; but rigidly ad-
here TO their own form of worship, customs,
and dress. 1t is in Handy alone that polyg-
amy is practised, as in the maratme prov
inces the disgusting custom Is upobserved.