ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a sketch of the domestic and familiar institutions and usages of the Indian islanders. In the common marriages of the Indian islanders, a price is universally paid by the husband for his wife; and the third branch of the Javanese marriage ceremonies has reference to the arrangements for this important business, which are made the night before the nuptials. The funerals of the Indian islanders who are Mahoinedans are conducted with a decent solemnity, usually without clamour and without ostentation. As connected with the domestic manners of the Indian islanders, reference requires to be made to the peculiar forms among them of using intoxicating or narcotic drugs. The Indian islanders, although addicted to the use of intoxicating drugs more generally and more extensively than any other people, yet have no striking bias for vinous or spirituous liquor.
