The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-02-27
WOMEN AMONG THE ARABS.

Polygany is rare among the Bedou
ms but few have two wives. The
marriage ceremony is very simple
among the Aenezes. When man de-
sires to marry girl, he sends a friend
of the family to her father, and the
girls wishes are ascertained; for she is
not compelled to marry against her in
clination. If she agrees, the friend,
then holding the fathers hand, says
aloud that he understands that he is
willing to give his daughter in mar
riage to her sutton, when the father an
swers in the affirmative. The we'd
ding-day is fixed, and the bridegroom
brings lamb to the tent of the girls
father and cuts its throat before wit
nesses as soon as 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, unfor-
/ tunately is loosened without much scru-
/ pie, for divorces are of frequent occur
7 renee. If an Arab becomes dissatisfied
with his wife, he separates himself by
! simply saying, "Thou art divorced"
and, giving her a she-camel, sends her
back to 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-five years of age,
who we're known to have had above if
| ty different wives in fact, VIII ever will
be at the expense of a camel may di-
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 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
girl enjoys much more consideration
than 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, 9
laboriOus operation often, and the uu
married girls among the Arabs of Sina
, drive the herds to pasture. They watcI
the sheep all day, and If a man of the
/ 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. TIL
old women are, however, treated witt
) great reverence and respect by thei
$ children, but the relations between tn
: 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
sess some of them. After a lapse O
time the slaves are emancipated an,
, married to persons of their own color
) Hospitality is certainly one of the Be
! douin virtues, though it often proceed
, from vanity and Gesire of distinguish
: ing themselves among their equ Is i
q the tribe. A helpless traveller may g
? the whole way between Mecca and Ds
= mascus, and he can safely enough true
! to the hospitality of the wild tribes b
: may encounter. A hungry Bedoui
: will always divide his scanty meal " it
v a stranger, though he may have n
= means of procuring a fresh supper
E When q stranger enters an Arab ell
y campment he alights at the first tent O
r his right hand, for if he passed tina
= tent its owner Would consider himsel
4 to be sighted. Among the Arabs {
: Sinai the custom is that the stranger j
n the guest of the first person who det
n cries him from afar. Sometimes ser
; Gus quarrels arise as to who has tn
q right to entertain visitor in the al
4 sence of the husband, his wife invarif
) bly, receives and entertains strangers
! ASST tied by a male relation, VIII
does the honors. Some tribes of tn
Arabs permit the women to drink coffe
: with strangers on their arrival, provide
o the owner of the tent be present
Q Among those tribes who are continual
; exposed to the passage of strangers,
9 must be confessed that hospitality ca
q only be purchased by money, and o
). the Hail route little mercy is shown {
: pilgrims IN distress. The influx of fol-
= eign manners has done a good deal t.
q ward impairing the ancientvirtues of tn
v Arabs who live on the borders of SyriG
!, g The lips Of Ara6iG," by W. {