Experimental Marriages.

Hastings Standard, Issue 395, 10 August 1897, Page 4

Experimental Marriages.

The Andaman Islands are used as a penal settlement for Indian and Burmese couvicts, who, with the exception of a very few of the original race scattered over the group, form the bulk of the population. The Chief Commissioner of the Andamans, who is also superintendent of the convict settlement at Port Blair, by virtue of the utmost autocratic authority vested in him, enjoys a despotism well-nigh incredible under the British flag. —As superintendent of the settlement in convict matrimonial matters he is supreme. He is licensor, registrar, parson, and witness rolled into one. The greater portion of the life convicts who are good characters are " self - supporters " that is, men out on ticket -of - leave in the settlement. These men are allowed to marry. The convict women, on the other hand, are always kept under close supervision in the female convict gaol. When the " self-supporter "is troubled with hymeneal aspirations he visits the female gaol and informs the overseer. The latter individual orders a parade of those women of good character who hav3 completed four years in the island. The would-be benedict then passes along the ranks with a view of selecting a likely helpmate. As might be expected, very eager are the faces and loving the glances bestowed upon him. While the overseer's head is turned the women engage in every variety of pantomimic efforts to display their qualifications for the post. Should the overseer absent himself for a moment, the coveted bachelor is assailed on all sides with a view to his conquest. Such phrases as " Here take me !" "No, me!" "Why, she's got red hair !" " She's crosseyed !"_ do not make matters easier for him. At length, having suited himself, he takes by the hand the lady of his choice and leads her from the ranks. TKe couple are then allowed half an hour in which to discuss matters, after which, if they agree, their names are sent into the head office. A day or two later tbey attend at the Commissioner's, and are there put through an examination as to the state of their affectious and their inclinations to marry ; but no awkward questions are raised concerning possible existinghusbands or wives beyond the seas. And now comes the climax. Supposing satisfactory answers have been given as to their mutual sentiments, the lady is handed over to the man, not to become his wife for better or worse, but for a seven days' trial. During these seven days she lives with him, and the relationship of the pair is that of a married couple. At the expiration of the term ©f approval, if both are agreeable they return to the Chief Commissioner's office and are married by that gentleman. If, on the other hand, either of them does not approve of the other, the man is left to go his way, while the woman returns to her old routine of work in the female gaol.