the Indian widows, who could not marry again
after the death of their first husband, and were at the mercy of the
priests, who filled their heads with terrors of a future state to
prevent their doing so. "With regard to this last idea, it is so
utterly groundless, that there is no word in our language corresponding
with 'priest;' and of all religions in the world, Islam is the least
influenced by spiritual meddlers of any sort. It is, besides, expressly
enjoined in the Koran, that widows should marry; they may do so as often
as they like, if they survive their husbands; and if they do not, it is
their own choice." Now, though this vehement denial of the Khan's is
perfectly true as regards _Moslem_ law and _Moslem_ widows, he must have
been well aware that the lady's error arose from her considering as
common to all the natives of India, Hindustanis as well as Hindus, those
customs and restrictions which are peculiar to the Hindus alone. Among
the latter, as is well known, both the priestcraft of the Brahmins, and
the impediments to the marriage of a widow,[20] exist in full force at
this day; and it would have been more candid on the part of the Khan,
even at the expense of a little of his Moslem pride, to have set his
fair opponent right on these points, than to have triumphed over her
ignorance, without showing her wherein lay her error.

But however deeply the Khan may have commiserated the unprotected
condition of English wives, as compared with the security of rights
enjoyed by the more fortunate dames of Hindustan, we find him at all
times disposed to do ample justice to the social qualifications and
accomplishments of our countrywomen, and the beneficial influence
exercised by them in smoothing the asperities of society. The masculine
portion of the community, indeed, find little favour in the eyes of the
Khan, who accuses them of being prone to indulge in inveterate enmity
and ill-feeling on slight grounds, while instances of real friendship,
on the contrary, are extremely rare: and he is wearied and disgusted by
the endless disputes which occur at all times and all places, from the
collision of individuals of adverse political sentiments. "They dispute
in parliament, they dispute in their social circles, they dispute in
steam-boats, on railroads, in eating and drinking; and I verily believe
that, but for some slight feeling of religion, they would dispute even
in their churches. But in the same proportion as th