The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-02-04

on the score of gender in AMMAN. To
the Impractical eye the costumes and
coiffures of the men and women seem
identical Both wear wide cotton
trousers and loose tunics. Both wear
their hair in tight knots at the backs
of their heads under broad cOnical
hats; and both are equally innocent
of shoes. After bit of experience
the newcomer learns that the tunics
of the women are a shade longer than
those of the men, and that the femi-
nine hair knot is worn a trife lower
on the neck.
An Easy-Going People.
The Annamese are an easy-going
people. Dodging a difficulty is the
easiest way of disposing of it, they
seem to feel They take things pref
ty much as they come; sickness,
health, prosperity, adversely. Polyg-
amy is practiced by those who can af-
ford it; the rest remain perfectly con-
tented as monogamists. They are in
durable gamblers, but the use of in
toxicants has never taken hold among
them.
Life is simple in rural AMMAN.
Loads are carried suspended from the
ends of the shoulder poles. Often one
will see a pig in a basket dangling
from one end, child from the other.
Children, incidentally, are often known
by numbers at first, in the order of
their birth, until the welghty matter
of choosing a name for life can be
properly disposed of.
AS in China, rice is the standard
food, but in AMMAN, mostly near the
sea, fish is more important as an ac-
companying dish. Weak tea is the
principal beverage. The Annamese
do not use chopsticks as do the Chi
nese and Japanese, but eat with their
fingers.
The people are predominantly agri-
culturists, and rice is their chief crop.
AS in the Philippines and East Indies,
water buffalo are the beasts of burden.
Their Religion tumble.
Theoretically the Annamese are
Buddhists. They are, however, easy
going in religion as in other things
and are even less religious than the
Chinese. Ancestor worship, the eth
les of Confucianism, the hocus-pocus
of degenerate Taoism and bit of
Annamism are all jumbled together
with Buddhism. 1t is said, in fact,
that the typical Annamese attends
whatever kind of temple is most con-
venient. Among the ignorant natives
of the back country there is even a
sort of tiger worship. At least, My
lord tiger" as he is called, is pro-
pitiated, and it is supposed to bring
iii fortune to kill even the man-eaters.
The non-Annamese CHAINS Of the
southern part of AMMAN are an inter
esting element in the population. Be
fore the Annamese overran the coun-
try their ancestors had built up an
important civilization, as is testified
by the ruins of temples and roads,
now choked by Jungle. There are
| two branches Of the CHAINS, one fol-
lowing supposed Hindu religious
rites and one Of Mohammedan affili-
ations. Both, however, have moved
| far from their original religious
sources, and each has been colored by
the other. The anomalous situation
Is presented. therefore, of nominal
Mohammedans generating Hindu
saints, and Of nominal Hindus with
| certain Moslem practices.
The Cham maidens are the original
new women" They select their hus
bands and negotiate for them through
their parents. The method is for tht
girl to send the man of her choice
little cakes If he tastes a cake he
thereby becomes engaged. After mar
riage wife can divorce her husband
at will
AMMAN is becoming more and more
coIored by French influence. French
| laws are being constantly extended
schools are being multiplied, and ever
the native architecture is undergoing
changes under French stimulation.
One of the most far-reaching field
Of French influence is engineering
Railways, highways, harbor works, II
rigation projects and mines are be
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