The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-03-05
W0MEN AMONG THE ARABS.

WOMEN AMONG THE ARABS.
Polygamy 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 9 girl, he sends 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
sTers in the affirmative. The we'd
ding day is fixed, and the bridegroom
brings q 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
renee. If an Arab becomes dissatisfied
with his wife, he separate himself by
simply saying, "Thou art divorced, "
and, giving her a she-camel, sends her
DtlIA " 4LCA AAC - AOo OO4At5C0
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 were known to have had above fif-
| 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 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 tc
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 il
cooking and working. An unmarried
girl enjoys much more consideration
than married woman once married
she becomes a mere drudge, occu
pied all day, while her husband il
lolliDg at ease, and smoking his pipe
The women have to fetch the water,
laborious operation often, and the un
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. TIL
old women are, however, treated witt
great reverence and respect by thei
children, but the relations between Tia
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 lapse o
time the slaves are emaneipated ana
married to persons of their own color
Hospitality is certainly one of the Be
douin virtues, though it often proceed
from vanity and desire of distinguish
ing themselves among their equ- Is il
the tribe. "A helpless traveller may g,
the whole way between Mecca and Da
mascus, and he can safely enough trus
to the hospitality of the wild tribes b.
may encounter. A hungry Bedouil
will always divide his scanty meal Will
a stranger, though he may have n
means of procuring a fresh supper
When a stranger enters an Arab en-
campment he alights at the first tent OF
his right hand, for if he passed tina
tent its owner would consider himsel
to be slighted. Among the Arabs O
Sinai the custom is that the stranger i
the guest of the first person who des
cries him from afar. Sometimes seri
Gus quarrels arise as TO who has tn
right to entertain a visitor in the alb
sence of the husband, his wife invaria
bly, receives and entertains strangers
ASST tied by a male relation, wht
does the honors. Some tribes of tn,
Arabs permit the women to drink coffe,
with strangers on their arrival, provided
the owner OF the tent be present
Among those tribes vino are continually
exposed to the passage of strangers, i
must be confessed that hospitality cal
only be purchased by money, and Oh
the Hail route little mercy is shown t.
pilgrims IN distress. The influx of for
eign manners has done a good deal to
ward impairing the ancientvirtues of tn,
Arabs who live on the borders of Syria
q The Hips Of Ara6ia," by w. c
Vaughan.