Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-03-10
WOMEN AMONG THE ARABS.

Polygamy is rare among the Bedou-
ins; but few have two wives. The mar
riage ceremony is very simple among
the Aenezes When man desires to
marry girl, he sends friend of the
family to the girls father, and the girl s
wishes are ascertained; for she is not
obliged to marry against her inclination.
II she agrees, the friend, then holding
the fathers hand, says that he under
stands that he is willing to give his
daughter in marriage to her suitor, when
the father answers in the affirmative.
The wedding day is fixed, and the BRIDE
groom brings a lamb to the tent Of the
girls father, and cuts its throat before
witnesses, and as soon az the blood falls
upon the ground the marriage ceremony
| is regarded as complete, and the bride
| is by and by conducted to her new home.
The knot being so easily tied, unfortu-
nately is loosened without much scru-
pie, for divorces are of frequent occur
renee. If an Arab becomes dissatisfied
with his wife, he separates himself by
simply saying, Thou art divorced, T"
and, giving her she camel, sends her
back 10 her family. he is not obliged
to state any reasons, nor does this re-
feet 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-6ve years Of age, who
were known TO have had above fifty diff
ferent wives; in fact, whoever will be at
the expense of camel may divorce as
| -, m nv xuiuao ha rAlaacao Tho ia
also can use the privilege of divorce in a
somewhat modified form. If she is un-
happy she can fly for refuge to her kin
dred, and, if the husband uses force to
induce her to return, her family would
resent this violence. He may revenge
himself by Withholding the words of di-
yorce, so that the woman can not marry
again. OF this class there are a large
number, but old maids are unknown
among the Bedouins. 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 be is not obliged to
marry her; STILL without his consent, she
can not accept 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, occupied
| all day, while her husband is lolling at
ease and smoking his pipe. The women
have to fetch the water, a laborious
operation often, aud the unmarried girls
among the Arabs of Sinai drive the
herds to pasture. They watch the
sheep all day, and if a man Of the
tribe passes they offer him a drink of
milk or water. On most occasions,
however, if a stranger passes the women
turn their backs upon him, NOR will they
receive anything from his hands unless
some friends be present. The old
women are, however, treated with great
reverence and respect by their children,
but the relations between the fathers
and their grown-up sons are often very
bad. In many tribes slaves perform the
more menial offices of the family, and
most wealthy sheiks possess some of
them. After lapse Of time the slaves
are emancipated and married to persons
OF their own color.
Hospitality is certainly one of the
Bedouin virtues, though it often pro-
ceeds from vanity and a desire of dis
tinguishing themselves among their
equals in the tribe. A helpless traveller
may 20 the whole way between Mecca
and Damascus, and he can safely enough
trust to the hospitality Of the wild tribes
he may encounter. A hungry Bedouin
will always divide his scanty meal with
a stranger, though he may have no
means of procuring a fresh supper.
When a stranger enters an Arab en-
campment he alights at the first tent on
his right hand, for if be passed that tent
its owner would consider himself to be
slighted. Among the Arabs of Sinai
the custom is that the stranger is the
guest of the FIRST person who describes
him afar. Sometimes serious qusrrels
arise as to who has the right to entertain
a visitor; in the absence Of the husband,
] his wife invariably receives and enter