Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-03-12
Women Among the Arabs.

PoLYGAMY is rare among the Bedouins;
but few have two wives. The marriage
ceremony is very simple among the
Aenezes. When man desires TO marry
a girl he sends friend of the family to
her father and the girls wishes are as
certained; for she is not compelled to
marry against her inclination. If she
agrees, the friend, then holding the
fathers hand, says aloud that he under
stands that he is willing to give his
daughter in marriage to her sutton, when
the father answers in the affirmative. The
wedding day is fixed, and the bridegroom
brings a lamb to the tent OF the
girls father and cuts its throat before
witnesses; as soon as the blood falls upon
the ground, the marriage ceremony is re-
garded as complete and the bride is by
and by conducted to her new home. The
knot, being so easily tied, unfortunately
is loosened without much scruple, for
divorces are of frequent occurrence. If
an Arab becomes dissatisfied with his
wife, he separates himself by simply say
ing, "Thou art divorced" and, giving her
she-camel, sends her back to her family.
He is not obliged to state any reasons, nor
does this reflect particularly on the dis
carded wife's honor; the husband is ex-
cused by his friends saying he did not
like her. There have been instances OF
Arabs, not more than forty-five years OF
age, who were known TO have above fifty
different wives; In fact, whoever Will be
at the expense of camel may divorce as
many wives as he pleases. The wife also
can use the privilege Of divorce in some
what modified form. If she is unhappy,
she can fly for refuge to her kindred, and,
if the husband uses force to induce her TO
return, her family would resent this yio-
lence. He may revenge himself by with
holding the words of divorce, SO that the
woman cannot marry again. OF this class
there are 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 he is not obliged to
marry her; still, without his consent, she
cannot accept husband.
Women are regarded among the Bed
ouins as inferior 10 men, and, though
not neglected, they are always taught to
consider that their chief business is cook
ing and working. An unmarried girl en-
Joys much more consideration than a
comes mere drudge, occupied all day
while her husband is lolling at ease, and
smoking his pipe. The women have TO
fetch the water, laborious operation Oft
en-, and 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
drink of milk or water. On most occa-
sions, however, If 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 faith
ers and their grown-up sons are often
very bad In many tribes slaves perform
the more mental 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 Bed
ouin virtues, though it often proceeds
from vanity and desire of distinguish
ing themselves among their equals in the
tribe A helpless traveller may go The
whole way between Mecca and Damascus,
and he can safely enough trust to the hos
pitality of the wild tribes he may en-
counter. A hungry Bedouin will al
ways divide his scanty meal with
stranger, though he may have no means
Of procuring fresh supply. when
stranger enters an Arab encampment he
alights at the first tent on his right hand,
for If he passes that tent its owner would
consider himself to be slighted. Among
the Arabs of Sinai the custom ID that the
stranger Is the guest Of the first person
who describes him from afar. Sometimes
serious quarrels arise as to who has the