The Nome daily nugget., 1935-02-09

 past eleven and ready to marry I announced kindly but firmly that no girl under twelve could be mar ried without my special consent,
 "The mother asked if the we'd ding could take place when the girl ! was twelve. Not wishing to seem over-harsh, assented. I even of fered to take photograph of the suppllcants and to give them a print as balm for their disappoint- ment. They eagerly posed for the picture and went away seemingly well pleased. s
 "On my next visit to the planta- tion, l sent for Canapa and her mother and gave them print of the photograph I had taken of them two weeks earlier. They seemed very happy, and the mother asked again If Canapa could be married when she was twelve. Again said yes, and told her to go ahead and prepare for the wedding. Aus also asked the same question. and 1 re- peated my assurance to him. Canapa would be twelve at the full moon, which would occur, so he had learned from the accountant, on Sunday of the next week.
 Entertaining the Sultan.
 "A week after this episode the sultan arrived and received official entertainment at Government house. 1 could not let the British outdo me in showing him the courtesy due his position and influence, and accord ingly invited him and his party to the consulate to tea. The guests included the sultana, the rajamuda. the sultan's minister, and several datus, or chiefs.
 T offered them cigarettes and handed the sultan a package la- beled Egyptian Cigarettes, Turkish Tobacco He examined the pack age critically, and when he saw the hieroglyphics he was delighted Egyptian cigarettes, he said. were made by the followers of the Faith ful and not by Christian infidels.' did not disturb his sublime faith, though I 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 sul- tan at the consulate, it occurred to me that 1t would be a fine thing to have him perform the wedding cere- mony. This would be an unexpect- ed honor to Aus and Canapa and no doubt would prove highly grati- flying to all concerned. The more thought of the idea the better I liked 1t. I would have the young couple come back with me to Sanda- kan on Saturday, and invite the sul- tan to another tea, where he could smoke his i'll of Turkish cigarettes made by the Faithful in North Car olina. The wedding of Aus the Bajao and the ve-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 ceptibly. The accountant met me as usual, but no smiling Aus stood In the doorway to greet me. Where is Alusr 1 asked.
 "'He Is here no more. He and Canapa live in the little house be- hind the rubber factory with Surin- i'm. the kaboon (gardener), and they went to Sandakan today In the hope -of getting to see the sultan Living with Oanapap I nut tered. What do you meanr
 They were married at the full i moon, a week ago, as the tuan had said, and he is at this house no | more.'
 Married a week ago2 Who mar ried themr
 Why you. Tuan; you married them "T married themt What are you driving atr s
 It was the full moon, Tuan, and Canapa was twelve. And 60 they were married. as the tuan had said. They sleep in the house of the kaboon. who is Canapa's uncle. Is not the tuan pleasedr Then the whole thing suddenly dawned. The accountant was right and all my paternalistic plans for | giving the house boy and his child fish fiancee wedding of royal pomp and circumstance had come to naught.
 T had married them, however. unintentionally, but none-the-less certainly. Because of my inexpe- rience with native customs in af- fairs of the heart. I had spoken fateful words too casually. The tuan had signined his consent and had nxed the time. That was enough"