| Show ALLOWED TO CHOOSE MATES privilege that Is accorded to french t female convicts french female convicts have one on privilege that female convicts of other countries do not enjoy they are allowed to get married but the husbands must also be convicts every six biz months a notice to Is circulated in the female penitentiaries aries calling upon all women who feel mandod to go out ont to new caledonia in the south pacific and be married to make application to that effect through the governor elderly women are said to be prompt in malting making such applications but they are not entertained as the candidates must be young and exempt from physical infirmities the selected candidates have to sign engagements promising to marry convicts and settle in new caledonia for the remainder of their lives on these conditions the government transports them and alv gives them an outfit and a ticket ot of leave when they land at niumea their marriages are arranged tor for them by the governor of the colony who has a selection of well behaved convicts for them to choose from and each girl may consult her own fancy within certain limits for tai 0 proportion of marriageable men to women Is about three to one sometimes wardens or free settlers have wooed a pretty female convict but before being vermit permitted ted to marry her hei mut must place them at ives in tire the position of a ticked coplea of leave e ma nand and undertake never to leave the colony the pathfinder |
