There appears but little ground for an opinion commonly entertained of this people, that they are dissolute, and that female virtue is held in little repute. The conduct of both sexes in public is altogether correct and decorous. The frailties of married women are said to be looked upon by all ranks with the greatest indignation and abhorrence, while the punishment awarded by the laws amounts to the greatest, and even to revolting, severity. With respect to unmarried women, the greatest liberty is conceded in matters of this sort, nor does even public opinion oppose the smallest obstacle to the freest indulgence of their inclinations. The utmost degree of liberty is conceded to them, and the connexions they form with their male acquaintances, whether temporary or durable, whatever consequence may follow, is in no manner prejudicial to the woman’s future prospects, nor is she the less respected by her future husband. The lesser chiefs make no scruple in giving their daughters, for a sum of money, to any one who is to reside for a short time in the country. Indeed, there seems to be little other ceremony in matrimonial treaties than that of giving.
Transcriber's Note
A duplicate heading "INDEX" has been removed from the text.
The following apparent printing errors have been corrected:
- p. xxix "Governor of Saigon," changed to "Governor of Saigon."
- p. 3 "xeistence" changed to "existence"
- p. 33 "LittleCarimon." changed to "Little Carimon."
- p. 35 "4. " changed to "4.—"
- p. 41 "hardship" changed to "hardship."
- p. 94 "agallocha,Roxb. (Aloxylum agallochium,Lour.)" changed to "agallocha, Roxb. (Aloxylum agallochium, Lour.)"
- p. 107 "accommotion" changed to "accommodation"
- p. 177 "was was brought" changed to "was brought"
- p. 185 "disnified" changed to "dignified"
- p. 192 "occcured" changed to "occurred"
- p. 194 "kill. Palaces" changed to "kill.—Palaces"
- p. 224 "Theft. History." changed to "Theft.—History."
- p. 249 "Roy" changed to "Roy."
- p. 250 "sookh" changed to "sookh."
- p. 292 "were mained" changed to "we remained"
- p. 391 "Governer General" changed to "Governor General"
- p. 402 "through Mr" changed to "through Mr."
- p. 404 "father o" changed to "father of"
- p. 415 "audidience" changed to "audience"
- p. 417 "hinese symbolic" changed to "Chinese symbolic"
- p. 422 "Musænda" changed to "Mussænda"
- p. 424 "Rains vehement" changed to "Rains, vehement"
- p. 425 "Ranran" changed to "Ran-nan"
- p. 425 "Scœvola" changed to "Scævola"
- p. 427 "Tuan kayn" changed to "Tuan Kayn"
- p. 427 "Tukkay" changed to "Tuk-kay"
- p. 427 "Wāāt thay champonn" changed to "Wāāt-thay-cham-ponn"
Punctuation in the index has been regularised.
The following printed erratum has been incorporated into the text:
Erratum.
p. 48, l. 18, for those, read that.
The following possible errors have been left as printed: