The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-01-30
EBENsBURG, PA, THURSDAY JANUARY 80 1868

ing power of life or death. The wife was
always defined and treated as thing, not
as person-the absolute property of her
lord. In the early ages man might sell
his children or his wife indiscriminately
and relics of this rude custom still sur
vive, even among nations called civilized
and Christian.
In the countries of the East, where
polygamy is almost universal, marriage is
not the sacred tie which it is held to be
in Christian countries. In Persia men
either marry for life or for determined
time. Travellers or merchants usually
apply to the magistrate for wife during
their residence in any place, and the Cadi
produces number of girls for selection,
whom he declares to be honest and
healthy. -Four wives are permitted to
each husband in Persia, and the same
number is allowed by Mohammedan law
to the Mussulman.
In Chinese Tartary kind of male
polygamy is prncticed, and plurality of
husbands is highly respected. In Thibet
it is customary for the brothers Of a family
TO have n wife in common, and they
generally live in harmony and comfort
with her. Among the Calmucks the
ceremony of marriage is performed on
horseback. The girl is first mounted,
and permitted TO ride off at full speed,
when her lover takes a horse and gallops
after her. If he overtakes the fugitive
she becomes his wife and the marriage is
| cOnsummated on the spot. 1t is said that
no instance is known of a Calmuck girl
ever being overtaken unless she is really
fond of her pursuer.
The Arabs divide their affections be-
tween their horses and their wives, and
regard the purity of blood in the former
quite as much as in their offspring. Polyg-
amy is practised only by the rich, and
divorces are rare. In Ceylon the mar
riage proposal is brought about by the
| man first sending to her whom he wishes
to become his wife, to purchase her clothes,
These she sells for stipulated sum,
generally asking as much as she thinke
requisite for them to begin the world with.
In the evening he calls upon her, with the
wardrobe, at her fathers house, and they
pass the night in each others company.
Next morning, if mutually satisfied, they
appoint the day of marriage. They are
permitted to separate whenever they
please, and so frequently avail themselvs
of this privilege. that they sometimes
change a dozen times before their inclina,
tions are wholly suited.
In Hindostan the women have a pecu-
liar veneration for marriage, as it is s
popular creed that those females who die
virgins are excluded from the joys oi
paradise. In that precious country the
women begin to bear children at about the
age of twelve, some even at eleven. The
proximity of the natives of India to the
burning sun, which ripens men "a well
as plants, at the earliest period in these
tropical latitudes, is assigned as the cause.
The distinguishing mark of the Hindoc
wife is the most profound fidelity, sub
| mission, and attachment to her husband
On the bank of Senegal, and among
many African tribes, the matrimonial
prize most sought after is abundance o.
flesh. To obtain corpuience is regarded
as the only real coneliness. A female
who can move with the aid of two mer
is but moderate beauty, while the lady
who can not stir, and is only to be moved
on camel, is esteemed a perfect para
gon.