Smyrna times., 1877-02-07
Women of tile East.

OAASA VI b4O 1LbDbt
Hebrew women, for instance, were simply
merchandise, bought, as Rachel by Joseph,
and handled to suit the safety and pleasure
OF their owners, as Rebecca and Sarah i'm
Egypt and Gerar. Yet Alfalfa, daughter
OF Omri, sat on the throne six years and
Alexandra, a Hebrew woman, reigned over
them.
SemiramiS, woman in Assyrian slavery,
became Il queen, and made her name great
by the building of Babylon in a single year.
Though the Turks had power of life and
| death over their wives, and if they rebelled
under the terrible tortures and punishments
of their lot, the very inexpensive power to
divorce by simply answering, when they
asked permission to 30 out, "Go ~ without
adding "but come back again. vet in 1890
the greatest actual power in Turkey was
Sultana Valydeh
Persian women of the lower classes are
Servlle slaves, supporting masters of un-
limited power, who do absolutely nothing
themselves, and the upper classes rarely
leaVe the harem from the cradle to the
grave. Yet Cassandana, wife of Cyrus.
''ruled Cyrus and Persia as she would" and
ruled So we'll that at her death the nation
mOurned twenty days. "Mourned for n
woman :"
The worst effect Mohamedanism has
been its degrading Of women, but the wifi.
OF 'the Prophet" Kadijah, was the first to
embrace his religion, and, as he afterwards
sad, "the greatest, best, and most powerful
OF all who accepted it.
Bramln women never see the face of man.
except those Of their husbands, nor any
walls except those of their own harem. and
whlle their husbands are away are hardly
allowed the necessariPs Of life. Yet the
world Is indebted to Miherul Nisa for the
hrSt OF its beautiful cashmere shawls, and
the existence OF that eXquite perfume altar
(properly spelled "atyr'') Of roses. Her
name was stamped on the coin of India.
and the title given her of Moor ,Jehnn.
"Light of the world"
All the cotton and silk used in Birmh is
the work of her women, and those eouisite
fabrics and delicate designs displayed ot
the Centennial might well have been placed
n woman's Pavilion, for they were ali
the work OF the gentlewomen of Burmah.
tor which they probably received blows
that they had not worked faster, and for
their endurance and perseverance, cheered
by the prOverb, woman has many lives.
and bears much killing"
Slamese women fight beside their hus.
bands, and often in front of them, who ut
nome are beaten like beasts to ali manner
OF drudgc.ies. They, however, have the
uncommon privilege of refusing an offered
husband If they choose. and take their re-
venSe III advance by refusing any one who
comes without a number of human skullsh
has taken in battle.
chinese women are, perhaps, of all the
most secluded in the upper classes. The
bride ~ Of L., ~
I'll IN close palanquin she is brought to
his door, where in full dress. with the knv
o: the palanquin, that has been sent him in
advance, he awaits her. He has the one
alternative Of refusing her if she clisplea,es
HIM, at cost Of doubling the amount paid
for her.
She is his slave complete, excapt that he
cannot sell her until he has gained divorce.
and Is subject to such notices as first dres.
sea and last undressed all the year round"
ana the like, and in some parts Of China.
10 a dlvorce that consists in simply breaking
chop sticks" before witnesses. MAJ,
writers however, ascribe the first SPINNING
TO the wife OF the Emperor Yao. and the
''lscovfry OF the use Of the silk worm was the
work OF the wife of lIoang III. Silk worms
until lately were cared for entirely nv
women, called Tsam, Now.
In Liberia, where the marriage ceremony
consists of the brides taking of the bride. |
groGmS shoes as a sign of suhection. and |
being laid at his feet with the expression. |
"Wolf, take thy lamb" the phsicians and
sorcerers feared and obeyed by men are
chiefly women.
In Java, before Mohammedanism found |
the island, women We're considered eoual |
with men, and in Celcbes, where there is an |
elective government, the throne was
Ottener held by woman than men.
Notwithstanding the general degradation |
OF the sex, energetic, powerful women have
made their power felt even in Egypt. The
wife OF Mohammed Ali was made Judge bv
the people, who rarely appealed to the
Pasha, and when they did received the
reply; 'Ry my two eyes! if she require il
1t must he done, though it be through fire.
water, and stone.''
Dido, sister of Pygmalion, King of Tyre.
was founder of Carthage. Mr.. Park, the
great African traveller, pays this tribute TO
women OF Africa: In all my travels. I
never addressed language of poiteness to a
woman without receiving n
polite reply; and, if hungry, thirsty, wet,
or sick, never failed to receive assistance
from them."-HarJord Evening Post.