her!" and he kissed her-repeatedly kissed her. Then by another inspiration (I do not say from whence), some one brought up the other Kasim, and introducing him to the other side of the roll
of matting, said, also very quietly, "Kasim, this is your wife!" and Kasim the elder accepted the providential appearance of his greatly-desired spouse, and embraced her with not less fervour
than his namesake and rival.
It was evident that neither intended to give up the lady to the other, and as each tried to monopolise her charms a struggle began between them to obtain complete possession, during which the audience,almost frantic with delight, urged the actors in this drama to manifest their affection to the lady of their choice. In the midst of this clamour the Kasims and their joint spouse fell down, and as they nearly rolled into the fire and seemed disinclined even then to abandon the lady, she was taken away and put back in her corner with the chairs and snakes.
It is a detail, which I only add because some readers hunger for detail, that neither of the Kâsims possessed a wife.
I do not pretend to offer any explanation of the cause of this state of mind which Malays call lâtah.
