POLYGAMY AND DIVORCE IN THE EAST.

271

of manumission before the Marriage is there a

Cadi.
civil institution, effected by the suitor, with the next
male relative of the bride, appearing before the magis
trate, avowing his affection for a woman he never saw,
and making a settlement on her according to his cir
cumstances. Having thus owned her for his lawful
wife, the match is registered.
The woman, in Turkey, can only have one plea for
demanding a divorce; the man has several; and he
finds, says Mr. Madden, little difficulty in separating
from a loathed or injured wife.—When, in the East, a
dowry has been given with the wife, the husband, in
case of divorce, does not play the thief as in Europe:
her portion is always given up.
Lady Mary Wortley Montague, in her Letters from
Constantinople, says, that “when a man has divorced
his wife in the most solemn manner, he can take her
again upon no other terms than permitting another
man to pass a night with her; and there are examples
of those who have submitted to this law, rather
than not have back their beloved.” “This condition,”
says Rycaut, “the law requires as a punishment of
the husband's lightness and inconstancy, and as an
evidence that, though the Turkish law is very indul
gent in the free choice and enjoyment of women, yet
in
its

that it punishes such as unadvisedly frustrate

tentions.”
of

so

The injustice polygamy has been already

clearly shown, establishing justice
of

rational
in

the
monogamy, that repetition unnecessary. will
is

only reply few arguments specially adduced

in
to
a

its favour. - -

We are told, that polygamy natural conse.

is
a