Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27
WHERE WOMEN Run rHINGA
An Interesting Picture of Life In rar-c6
~umatra-


sumstra-
Prom the San Francisco Examiner.
A country where the women own the houses
and lands. where gold and silver are common
as the flowers in the spring. where everybody
happy and nobody does wrong. IL the burden
o' the story that W. J. shaw brings from far
Of sumatra.
W. j. Shaw lie one Of the men who modelled
things IN this country when IL wns Young and
piiable. He came from New York in 1919 and
was about the first man TO hang ont q lawyers
sign IN Ran Francisco. He won the cases that
settled the validity OF settlers titles and re-
suited IN the Van Ness ordinance: and he served
as state senator in 1854. when IL was more Of
an honor 20 be legislator than il 10 now.
In all my years 81 travel" he said yester-
uaE. Il never found happier people than
those who live in sumatra. in the middle part
OF the island. The people all over sumatra
are believers IN the MohammedAn religion hut
the peculiar customs which make this particu-
lar people unique and different from ali others
% confined TO one community.
1t would not be correct to term this branch
OF the sumatra people q tribe for they do not
1--we IN tribal relations at all. although there 10
a chief and under chieftaIns. These rulers.
however, are not despots. and II the people do
not like the way ia which they manage things
they dispose of them very shortly and put
oeHcr men IN thelr places
Although men are the ostersiblo chicftains
the women are the real rulers. The customs
OF the country forbid the giving OF q mans
property 60 his children after his death. IL a
man dies, the property he owns is given 20 his
i.ther and mother. The woman's property. on
the contrary, Is given TO the children. Probably
that Is the custom that is responsible for tho
turning ever OF all the wealth of the country 20
the women.
1t is the constant aim Of the men 20 enrich
their wives. Each man has but one wife. and
each vile one husband, and thew live a per-
ieclly moral life. The teachings OF Moham-
mechanism are followed upon the question IL
divorce The husband has the right 90 divorce
his wife whenever he chooses hut must allow
n 1 10 retain the property in her Possession.
Divorces are not frequent. though. aud I b.-
ne'e That IN proportion 20 the population d.
Norces IN this part OF Sumatra are not one in
sixteen compared TO the number in California
The people are happy there-happy ss they
can DE. Inc children live at home with their
mother-the boys until they are thirtsea or
fourteen and the girls until they marry.
Mheh the daughter gets married she does
not leave her mothers house. An addition 10
built on-a new roof they call it-and the
newly married girl makes her home there and
brings up her children. This custom, Of
course, results in forming quite large commu-
mites where there are many children.
Il know one Of these communities where
there were a mother and several daughters
n'Lhg with helr chudren. The original house
had grown with each marriage until IL spread
over large piece Of ground
when the boys get old enough TO leave
nome they are taken 10 q compartment house
Mhlch IS set aside as home for them until
tney wish TO marry. The girl has the right 60
choose whom she will we'd, a privilege dele
gated 10 her IN lev Mohammedan countries.
once married, the husband for the rect OF
ms Aie Is his wifes lover. He lives apart from
her ana Visits his home only in the evening TO
ehat v ith her and the children. All the money
ne gets-and there Is plenty of money OF Dutch
coihage there-he turns over TO his sweetheart.
She dresses herself and the children and shout
deFs all the petty family cares
he Is bothered only TO earn the money 10
pay Tor the things they eat and wear.
10 get things for them TO eat need not
worry him much. The portion of Sumatra in
which these strange people live il very fertile
anu productive. IL Is line country with
beautiful mountains and streams and uacnifil
cent scenery. All sorts OF fruits grown and
Ia tne hiGher attitudes many Of the grains.
10 hha dresses Tor the family must be n diff
houI' matter, Tor L never saw such elegantly
atureu women as IN these communities They
are very beautiful, boasting the fairest and
nnes, eohpie&ions and the brightest eyes
nave seen women there wearing dresses OF
and the ns.iyes ,,sssss. 49,. ,