Show J r Strange Marriage Customs Custom According to a writer in a Calcutta 1 publication the poorer c asses casses classes of the Siamese people need no priest for mari marc mar- mar i c They elope and return three It r days after begging for the parents parents' blessing which is a mere formality They are now husband and wife Among people of the higher classes the marriage Is conducted with numerous numerous numerous nu nu- preparations and ceremonies Polygamy is common among the nobles nobles nobles no- no no no- bles and the King himself sets his subjects the example he has two j Queens termed first and second queen quean The queens must always be very near r relations of the King his sisters or sisters halt being preferred But bey besides besides be be- sides the queens the harem wall in In- close several hundred women The legal le legal legal le- le gal fictions and devices which the a a a K caste In the tho Bombay Bombay Bom Born bay presidency presidency are are driven to devise in order to evade the enormous expenditure ex- ex expenditure expenditure ex ex- of properly marrying a maiden maiden mai mai- den such as would would- do credit to a mediaeval lawyer When a suitable partner cannot be procured for a girl she Is married to a bunch of flowers which are subsequently thrown down downa a well The girl thus becomes a wIdow widow widow wid wId- ow and can then be married by a far cheaper rite Or a girl Is married to a aman aman man who Is already married and who promises to divorce her Immediately after the marriage ceremony Is coni con- con i eluded The girl Is thus reckoned as asa asa a widow and can then be disposed of ol economically to any anyone one who may choose to marry her |