278 CONCUBINAGE AND COTRTEZANISM,

band, in the midst of these whimsical and jealous

beings, who sell their freshness and their charms so
dearly, lives neither a life of freedom nor happiness.
The wife, who is the veriest slave, is easily able to
gain her independence : if she is dissatisfied, the law
in the East grants her permission to return to her
father's house with her dowry and her children, with
out, however, divorcing her.”
Now, we cannot suppose women quite so constant
in those countries where the husband has a variety of
wives, as in other countries, where he is confined to
one. Indeed, where polygamy exists, the superabun
dance of women, however trifling, must ever render
them more depraved; for as both sexes have by nature
the same wants, that which is the most numerous
must seek the other for the gratification of these.
all

In polygamous countries, accordingly, women

getting free from the most severe re
of

have the art

straint; and the difficulty and unfrequency oppor
of

tunity, the dread again, only ren

of

not finding
it

make the most of it. We

to

der them more anxious

are accordingly that, many parts
of
in

assured the
East, the wife visit her parents, sleep
to

allowed
to
is

there, and pass several weeks with them; and that

to

do

especially when she can give

so
to

she takes care

her female friends, great
of in

of

to

lessons the Zenana

youths fifteen, cousins and relations, that are passed
many children.
as
so

off
“An
Egyptian Casheff,” says Mr. Madden, “took
his wives, who was dying
of

dropsy.
of
to

me see one
He had large harem; and, while was examining
a

the patient, the young ladies, who had probably never

Frank before, their apartments, whis
at

in

seen least
a