y or anger, no loud language or boisterous laughter is ever heard.

The marriageable age of girls is from twelve to fourteen years, and that
of boys sixteen. The night preceding the wedding must be spent by the
couple in watching, in order to avert subsequent unhappiness, and the
next day they repair to a mosque and are married according to Muhammadan
rites and customs. To symbolize her total submission to her husband, the
wife washes his feet. Unfortunately, a divorce can be obtained by the
husband for a trivial cause by the payment of a small fee. A native, on
being asked why he got a divorce from his wife, replied, "She ate too
much and I could not afford to keep her."

Early in the morning the highways are thronged with people on their way
to and from the markets. And the markets?--well, one is certain to find
John Chinaman in charge. As a matter of fact, there are more than half a
million Chinese in the island, and they have the control of the trade
with the natives. But the native Javanese trudges along, balancing two
baskets on a long bamboo pole. Women and girls help to make up the
throng, and they, too, are laden.

At the market pandemonium seems to be loose, and both buyer and seller
are shrieking at the top of their voices over a bargain price. There is
no question as to which wins; the Chinese merchant is there for
business. When the native receives the pay for his produce quite as
likely as not he makes for the nearest gambling-house and in half an
hour loses the savings of a month.

To the natives the greatest terrors are lightning and tigers, both of
which claim hundreds of victims each year. They often refrain from
killing the tigers, since the tigers kill the wild pigs which destroy
their crops.

The tiger is killed usually by capturing him in a sort of box-trap, and
then the trap is taken to the nearest stream, where it is submerged and
the animal drowned, to avoid injury to the skin, which brings a good
price. The claws and whiskers are carefully removed and sold as
fetiches, since they are considered to be very efficacious.

Notwithstanding their hard lot, the people seem happy and there is no
starvation poverty. They and their ancestors from time immemorial have
always worked hard under task-masters and they know of no better
condition. Since their scanty clothing costs but little, if they can
have enough to eat and a little amusement occasionally, they are
content. When they have money they s