Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/153

 LAWS. 139 For the abominable and unnatural vice said to be so frequent among the Persians, the Hindus, and especially the Chinese, calling theni selves the most refined nations of Asia, the Indian islanders have not even a name. Their manners, in this particular, are perfectly pure and uncontaminated. Of course, there are no laws against crimes which have no existence. Marriages between near relations are prohibited by the laws of the Indian islanders. When they do happen, the parties are fined if within the third degree of consanguinity collaterally, and in the ascending and descending line they are indefinite- ly forbidden. A brother, however, marries the widow of a brother, as among the Hindus ; and a man, on the demise of his wife, may espouse her sister ; but, among the Javanese at least, such unions are not deemed respectable. These are the only marriages which seem, to our prejudices, to infringe upon the law of nature. VOL. in.