CONVICT MARRIAGES IN NEW CALEDONIA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1164, 20 June 1884, Page 3

CON VICT MARRIAGES IN NEW CALEDONIA.

Under the French convict regulations in New Caledonia the male criminals are divided into classes, and the concession is granted to the first class of being permittee t > choose 'heir wives from among the female c •nviots incarcerated in the women’s establishment at Bonrail. " A community of the Sisters of Mercy snperintend the ‘‘jiving in marriage.” At seated times the male convicts who desire to wed are conveyed to the prison, where they are admitted to a r on, and the women are drawn ,np in a r 'tv. The Sis'ers of Meroy set about the affair in a businesslike manner, and range up t.ie older and plainer women—the “|real

sta e goods,” in fiiot—Hrst. A convict wlu> -h s hie w-ts ah-ut him ia tint tq.btf pot .off in ibis way, and after passing along the line, by will Bay, “ These are too- old ; bring me some young ones,” and then .the old goods are taken off, and the young girls —some of them fine, -buxom wenches—ara submitted for approval When the choice, which generally depends wholly on good phyS’quo and looks, is made, the marriage ceremeny follows, and then the tyoman leave* the prison for the homo of her-hus-band. When a girl is made an offer of marriage it is a veiy rare thing for her to refuse to wed, no matter who the suitor may be. Sometimes,' however, the giila bargain a good deal before they consent; and the following amusing anecdote is related by the Si’oeial commissioner.of the Sydney Morning Ueraldt—A -.very bashful young convict bad at last made up hia mind to have a. wife, and when the time arrived he set out for Bonrail full of valour and determination. He was brave enongh before his fellow-men, hut conversation with a woman had become so remote a matter that when >he entered the room be felt completely dumbfounded. The Sisters nearly succeeded in trading off upon this overwhelmed young convict an ancient dame of 55 years, who hadn’t a tooth in her head; but he escaped, and eventually selected a stalwiat, matter-of-fact looking girl, who he thought wonld lie a useful, if not a particularly good wife; They retired to an ante room to discuss the matter‘•quietly,” and the young oonvict followed out the proposition so literally that he sat on a chair gaping at bis betroth® I blankly,-without' uttering a word. The future bride eat opposite to him waiting for him to “ speak mbut not a word did he say. At last she could bear it no longer, and abruptly queried, “Well, what have you got to say, eh 1" The young convict still re -arged his love with dull eyes, but from his open mouth fell uo words, “Got a house, eh ?” “ Yes” faintly said the lover. “Got any haricots and maize?” “Yes” “Got a mosquito curtain ?” “Yes.” “Then come along.” And -she marched him off to be married.