Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-04-25
Daily sr'ilr9inian.
Women OH tho Indian Islands

The lowing Interesting narrative and account
of tho condition. Of the sex in the remote Asiatic
Islands, Is from the addresses of Capt. Walter NJ.
Gibson recently delivered before Literary Societies
ut Mobile.
There are no social restrictions imposed upon
the women; they are ms free IA the men, to 90
abrea,l publicly Ia see nnd he seen. To transact
bnsiness,to travel nlono to marry when and whom
they choose. in fine the elevation, may the supre-
macy o the position of woman in some respects
over that Of man is II remarkable feature in the
social lie aud political state oi many rnces oi the
East India Archipelago The mother ~ the sole
educator of the children; whether in r"lirion, or
for thu Sac, or even inr war. An injured wif' is
afforded every facility in Snmatran law of divorce
to enable her To make p4other eholco al u partner,
but the women of the Archipelago are moi ine"n-
stan, and unrestanedly passionate like the We
men Of the Asintir continent: wives nrc generally
fanh,nl- industrious help p-mates--attending
in fact 10 the chief duties oi life, IN doors aud cut;
tho Malay woman is found nn board nll al the trn-
dug prahus that descend Snmatrnn streams. md
thvetse the sens of the Arehpshgo--she carries
on the chiel Traffic oI the country whether rs NOR
chant. banker or pcddlcrshe il the sole prac
tioner oI the medical art nnl possesses rnnc skill
in extracting health restoring ui,es and p"sonons
coueoc,nrls from the rich herbarinm oi her coun-
try size thus performs the chiet soeiui duties OF
liia and in several nations Of tho Arohirclngo.
fills tho highest Offices of State. In thr Saltanate
Of Ban in the island Of Celehes. where they have
u singular government composed ot II hereditary
aris,rfary and an elective monarchy, like ono
Wa The case with independent Poland. tho soNc-
reign is always n Sutnnn. ncoordi to Inv
which Nns brought about by tho following Incl
dent Galsan, tho commander Of ono of the ear
liest Parf0eaesc expeditions to the East.mao wnr
upon the Siaie Of Boni for some alleaed outrage
upon an pnAoy, bearing message from hm.
Poftntne.e army invaded the territory oi l'oni
and the Eurapenn aud Asinilr troops stood before
each either in battle nrrny. Galvnn was n chiNnl-
rnus, hotot tlan. too noble spirit for the hlli-
buster ng career in which he wns engaged. he felt
comrunet5an ut the idea Of snua uahtorinc honi-har-
bnrous, maskiul men on account OF II ianecd in
suit to lis uerson he resolved 10 meet the issue
himself; he challenged the Sultan of Boni u meet
him in 4insle combat. If Gal,nn was slnin, tho
pnriugnese army should retire. mud if the Sultan
fell, thea Calvin should take his place. Tho
chulicner wns accepted the Indian prince came
forth with II rct,nue of spearmen. After nasnnr-
inc ne9r'y within hail of IL" European general.
VIII awaited him in the rnin the Sultan halted.
he whrelnl round and ignominon-ly fell bnrL
within the ranks Of his army, lie had his family
and relatives with him in tho camp. according I"
the cut 'm Of the East among thrm wh- Il spstrr
III mi en about twenty-five Nenrs OF agc. Sho
heard ol her l,ofhcrs nnl his followers di-srace-
fnl Ai2Al shh erasped spear, and hnioe her in
tfntion Nas known Ia any oite III the camp, had
ridden lat;h in the pnin aud proclaimed To tho
Portusnesr that she ready 10 Fight lhrlr lead
or ior tie Independence of her country. Galsan
heard the challenge with ndmring wonder; l,is
chivar ,a~ leart was profoundly touched, aud nj
ter gallant rarlcy, retired with his army. The
noble. ot b nj depo-el their Saltan, placed the
heroic sister upon the throne anl then established
n Inv that only II mnidrn. between Is and ~ years
of age ~as nhglie in future to The royal honors
Of the State ofthirteen sorereigns that lare
Iegnrd over tho -ulranate of Aehecn in the north
ern part # sumnirn. . ha,e been women. Tho
Malay l-lanl Of Madagascar Lately possessed II
queen. who successfully repuleod the encroach-
ments Of the French aud tho Portuguese.