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gations. This prevents him from doing what might be disagreeable to them, and his taking a second wife would in most cases be unwelcome to the family of the first.
Secondly, there is the facility for forming illegitimate connections, which though strongly condemned by the law and also in theory by the adat, do not in point of fact do any injury to the social position of the Achehnese who indulges in such intrigues in moderation.
Finally the paederastic habits of the Achehnese, and (as many think) the use of opium[1], cause the majority of them to set a lower value on intercourse with the opposite sex than is usual among other native populations.
Financial results of marriage.The financial consequences of marriage for the husband have so far received only a passing notice.
The obligations which the Mohammedan law imposes upon a man in respect of his wife are nearly all of a financial nature[2]. He has to pay the dowry, which is fixed either by mutual consent or in accordance with the bride's position; as we have seen, the Achehnese jinamèë is regulated according to the rules laid down by the law.
The husband is also bound to supply his wife with food, clothing, lodging and service in conformity with her social position, and has on the other hand the right to require of her within fitting limits, obedience and fulfilment of conjugal duties, but not to burden her with domestic cares or occupations.
These rules serve as a basis for the settlement of differences between married people when brought before the qādhī, but the married state is in fact controlled by quite different principles in all Mohammedan countries, and that without any conflict with the law. The latter in fact leaves the husband and wife entirely free to give validity to just so many of their privileges as they choose. For instance, it is a universal adat that the wife should assume the duties of housekeeper, and both the universality of this custom and the want of acquaintance of the people with the details of the law causes this to be regarded almost as an obligation. Marriages of wealthy wives with men of little
- ↑ I must here observe that while opium-smoking is very common on the West and North-East coasts, it is not at all so prevalent in Acheh Proper as is usually supposed.
- ↑ The man is never bound to connubial intercourse (see p. 352 above); and is only required to pay regular visits to his wife where he has more than one. In the latter case the claims of the wives are relative only and not absolute, i. e. he is bound to spend as much time with one as he does with the other.
