table, but by the time she is the mother of two or three
children, she begins to learn; she economizes in food and
clothing; she looks after her children; she adds to her
husband's prosperity. She takes a pride in the home, in which
she hopes to enjoy many happy days; but poor creature! she sees
one day a woman entering her door, who says, 'Your husband has
married me,' She recalls all her struggles for family and home,
and her heart is filled with bitterness. Quarrels ensue, and
her husband, taking a stick, beats her till she is like
well-kneaded dough. Afterwards they both go before the judge,
who without making any investigation of the case, gives
sentence in favor of the man. 'You have not in any wise
transgressed the law; the female tribe are all radically bad;
if this one says anything more, punish her.' Unfortunate
creature! If she is modest and self-respecting, this trouble
falling upon her occasions various illnesses, and she knows not
what becomes of house and children. The neighbor women, seeing
all this, are completely discouraged from improving their
homes, or rearing their children properly, as they say, 'The
more our husbands' circumstances improve, the less they will
care for us.' Why then reproach the women? It is proper to
advise the men, who have learned two things thoroughly from the
law of the Prophet: one I have mentioned, and the other is
this. In the evening when the Aga comes, he first washes
himself to be ceremonially clean and says his prayers to
fulfill the law of the prophet. Then he goes to his private
room, or to the men's apartments. Half an hour does not pass,
till he sends to demand the _ajil_ (food used with intoxicating
drinks, meat, fruits, etc.). The wife makes all ready, and
sends to him. Then the unhappy soul hears from that quarter the
sound of piano, organ, or tambourine, and some women just from
their feelings at such times, become a prey to divers maladies
and untold misery. At one or two o'clock in the morning, the
Aga brings his honorable presence into the _andaroon_. The wife
asks, 'What is this business in which you have been engaged?
How long must I put up with these evil doings?' Immediately a
quarrel ensues; the husband, partially or quite intoxicated,
and not in his right mind, answers, 'What business of yours is
it wh