The Coolidge examiner., 1934-08-31

past eleven and ready TO marry
announced kindly but firmly that
no Elrl under twelve could be mar.
rled without my special consent
The mother asked ~ the wed.
fnE could take place when the girl
was twelve. Not wishing 20 seem
oycr-harsh, assenied. even Of.
fered 60 take a photograph OF the
supplicants and TO give them 2
/ print as balm for their dlsappolni.
menL They eagerly posed for the
nlciure and went array seemingly
well pleased.
-on my next visit 10 the planta.
ton. sent Tor Canapa and her
mother and gave them a print OF
the photograph | had taken OF them
two weeks earlier. They seemed
very happy. and the mother asked
again u CanHpa could be married
when she was twelve Again I said
yes, and told her TO 20 ahead and
prepare Tor the wedding. Alus also
asked the same question. and re-
peate,i my assurance TO him. Canapa
would Dc twelve at the fun moon
which would occur. so he had
learned from the accountant. or
Sunday % the next week.
Entertaining the Sultan.
a week after this episode the
sultan arrived and received Official
entertainment az Government house
| could not let the British ouido me
Ia showing him the courtesy due his
position and influence. and accord
lugly Invited him and his party 60
the consulate 20 tea. The guests
included the sultana. the raJamuda.
the sulian's minister. and several
dntus. or chiefs
Il offered them cigarettes and
handed the sultan a package Ia
heled Egyptian Cigarettes. Turkish
Tobacco He examined the pack
age critically. and when he saw the
hlcroEiyphics he vas delighted
Egyptian cigarettes. he said. we're
made by the followers of the Faith
ful and not by Christian iniidels
| did not disturb his sublime faith
though ! could have told him that
these cigarettes were machine made
In North Carolina. from tobacco
grown In Asia Minor.
And SO They Were Married.
while was entertaining the sui
tan AT the consulate, IL occurred 20
me that II would be dne thing 10
have him perform the wedding cere
mony. This would be an unexpeci
ed honor 10 Alns and Canapa and
no doubt would prove highly graft.
flying 20 all concerned. The more
I thought of the idea the better
liked H. ! would have the young
couple come back with me to Sanda
kan on Saturday. and invite the sui
tan TO another tea. where he could
smoke his fili OF Turkish cigarettes
made By the Faithful in North Car.
olinn- The wedding OF Alus the
Balao and the twelve year-old Malay
beauty. Canapa. would follow. The
Incident was all but closed.
when went TO the plantation
the following Saturday. the full
moon that regulated Malay birth
days for the month had waned per
ceptlbly. The accountant met me
as usual. but no smiling Alus stood
In the doorway to greet me.
-'where Is AlusT | asked.
He Is here no more. He and
Canapa live In the little house be-
hind the rubber factory with Surln.
i'm. the kaboon tgardenerl. and they
went TO Sandakan today in the hope
OF getting 10 see the sultan
Living with Canapar nut.
tered. What do you meanr
They were married at the full
moon. a week ago. as the tuan had
said. and he Is at this house no
more.
Married a week ago? Who mar.
ried themr
why you. Tuan: you married
them
~ married them! What are
you driving at7'
lit was the full moon. Tuan.
and Canapa was twelve. And so
they were married, as the tuan had
said. They sleep In the house OF
the kaboon, who Is Canapas uncle.
Is not the tuan pleasedT
Then the whole thing suddenly
dawned. The accountant was right
and all my paternalistic plans for
giving the house boy and his child
ish fiancee wedding OF royal pvmp
and circumstance had come TO
naughL
Il had married them, however.
unintentionally. but none-the- less
certainly. Because Of my inexpe-
rienee with native customs In ar
fairs OF the heart. I had spoken
fateful words too casually. The tuan
had signified his consent and had