Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-02-28
WOMEN AMONG THE ARABS.

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WOMEN AMONG THE ARABS.
Polvsany Is rare among the B7ioQ-
;ns but few have two wives. The
marriage ceremony IS very simple
among the A71ez=s. Wien a nan de-
sirss . marry q glrl, he sends & friend
Of the family 70 her father, and tie
girls wishes are sscertsined for she IS
rot compelled TO marry against ler in.
cl!rstio1. II she agrees, the friend,
then holding the fathers hand, SAYS
aloud that he understands that he Is
willing TO give his daughter in mar
riags to her suitor. when the father an.
szers in the affirmative. The we'd
diug-iay is fixed, and the bridegroom
brings a lamb to the tent OF the girls
father and cuts its throat before Wit
uesses ; as soon as the blood falls upon
the ground, the marriage ceremony is
regarded as complete, and the bride is
by-aud-by conducted to her new home.
The knot, being SO easily tied, untor-
~tunately is loosened withou. much scru.
pie, for divorces are Of frequent ecu
renee. Ii an Arab becomes dissatisfied
With his wife, he separatts himself by
simply saying, "Thou art divorced"
and, giving her a she-camel, sends her
back to her family, He is not obliged
10 state any reasons, nor does this re-
fleet particularly on the discarded wife's
honor the husband is excused by his
friends saying he did not like her.
There have been instances of Arabs,
not more than forty.fye years Of age,
who were known to have had above ff-
ty different wives in fact, VIII ever will
be at the expense Of a camel may d.
vorce as many wives as he pleases.
The wife also can use the privilege of
divorce in a somewhat modified form.
If she is unhappy, she can fly for re-
fuge to her kindred, and, if the hus-
band uses force to induce her to return,
her family would resent this violence.
He may revenge himself by withhold
ing the words Of divorce, so that the
woman cannot marry again. OF this
class there are a large number, but old
maids are unknown among the Be-
douins. If the husband dies, his
brother generally offers to marry his
widow, but neither is forced by custom
TO enter into matrimony. A man has
the exclusive right to the hand Of his
cousin, though he is not obliged to
marry her still, without his consent,
she cannot accept a husband.
Women are regarded among the Be-
douins as inferior to men, and, though
not neglected, they are always taught
to consider that their chief business is
cooking and working. An unmarried
girl enjoys much more consideration
than a married woman once married
she becomes a mere drudge, occu
pied all day, while her husband is
lolling at ease, and smoking his pipe
The women have TO fetch the water, {
= laborious operation often, and the m
married girls among the Arabs of Sina
drive the herds to pasture. They watcl
the sheep all day, and if a man Of tn
tribe passes, they offer him a drink O.
milk or water. On most occasions
however, if a stranger passes, the wo
men turn their backs upon him, nor vii
they receive anything from his hand
unless some friends be present. Thu
old women are, however, treated Will
great reverence and respect by thei.
children, but the relations between tht
fathers and their grown-up sons are of
ten very bad. In many tribes slave
perform the more mental offices Of tn
, family, and most wealthy sheiks pos
gegs some Of them. After a lapse 0
time the slaves are cmancipated AM
married to persons Of their own color
Hospitality is certainly n Of the BE
douin virtues, though it often proceed
from vanity and a uesire Of distinguish
ing themselves among their equ Is i
the tribe. A helpless traveller may g
the whole way between Mecca and Ds
mascus, and he can safely enough trus
t, to the hospitality of the wild tribes h
may encounter. A hungry Bedoui
will always divide his scanty meal wit
, a stranger, though he may have n
, means Of procuring q fresh supper
{ When a stranger enters an Arab Ell
, campment he alights at the first tent 0
: his right hand, for if he passed thf
. tent its owner would consider himse.
! to be sighted. Among the Arabs {
!. Sinai the custom is that the stranger
o the guest of the first person who de-
n cries him from afar. Sometimes ser
Gus quarrels arise as TO who has I'll
q right to entertain a visitor in the a
/ sence of the husband, his wife invari
J.. bly, receives and entertains stranger
asst ted by a male relation, WI
does the honors. Some tribes of IL
Arabs permit the women to drink cofft
with strangers on theirarrival, provide
= the owner OF the tent be presen
E Among those tribes who are continual
;, EXPOSED to the passage of strangers,
3 must be confessed that hospitality ca
q only be purchased by money, and Q
the Hail route little mercy is shown
a pilgrims in distress. The influx of 70
! eign manners has done a good deal t
Z ward impairingthe ancient virtues of I'll
y Arabs who live on the borders Of Syri
The Alps Of Arabia," By w.
i Maugh0n.