73

CHAPTER VIII.
_Re-opening of the School in Beirut._ 97

CHAPTER IX.
_Luciya Shekkur._ 114

CHAPTER X.
_Raheel._ 120

CHAPTER XI.
_Hums._ 140

CHAPTER XII.
_Miriam the Aleppine._ 151

CHAPTER XIII.
_Modern Syrian Views with regard to Female Education._ 158

CHAPTER XIV.
_Bedawin Arabs._ 180

CHAPTER XV.
_Woman between Barbarism and Civilization._ 191

CHAPTER XVI.
_Opinions of Protestant Syrians with regard to the
Work of American Women in Syria._ 200

CHAPTER XVII.
_Other Labors for Women and Girls in this Field._ 204

CHAPTER XVIII.
_The Amount of Biblical Instruction given in Mission
Schools._ 215

CHAPTER XIX.
_The Children's Chapter._ 233

THE

WOMEN OF THE ARABS.

CHAPTER I.

STATE OF WOMEN AMONG THE ARABS OF THE JAHILIYEH, OR THE "TIMES OF THE
IGNORANCE."

In that eloquent Sura of the Koran, called Ettekwir, (lxxxi.) it is
said, "When the _girl buried alive_ shall be asked for what sin she was
slain." The passage no doubt refers to the cruel practice which still in
Mohammed's time lingered among the tribe of Temim, and which was
afterwards eradicated by the influence of Islam. The origin of this
practice has been ascribed to the superstitious rite of sacrificing
children, common in remote times to all the Semites, and observed by the
Jews up to the age of the Captivity, as we learn from the denunciations
of Jeremiah. But in later times daughters were buried alive as a matter
of household economy, owing to the poverty of many of the tribes, and to
their fear of dishonor, since women were often carried off by their
enemies in forays, and made slaves and concubines to strangers.

So that at a wedding, the wish expressed in the gratulations to the
newly-married pair was, "with concord and sons," or "with concord and
permanence; with sons and no daughters." This same salutation is
universal in Syria now. The chief wish expressed by women to a bride is,
"may God give you an arees," _i.e._ a bridegroom son.

In the Koran, Sura xiv, Mohammed ar