[47] Wells Williams, Middle Kingdom, ii. 193.
[48] Smith, Proverbs of the Chinese, p. 256.
[49] de Groot, Religious System of China, (vol. ii. book) i. 752 sq.
[50] Ta Tsing Leu Lee, sec. ccclxvi. p. 404.
Among the ancient Hebrews fornication was forbidden to women[51] but not to men. The action of Judah towards the supposed harlot on the way to Timnath is mentioned as the most natural thing in the world,[52] even though the perpetrator was a man of wealth and position, a man whom his brethren “shall praise” and before whom his “father’s children shall bow down.”[53] Throughout the Muhammedan world chastity is regarded as an essential duty for a woman.[54] In Persia an unmarried girl who gave birth to a child would surely be killed.[55] Among the Fellaheen of Egypt a father or brother in most instances punishes an unmarried daughter or sister who has been guilty of incontinence by throwing her into the Nile with a stone tied to her neck, or cutting her to pieces, and then throwing her remains into the river.[56] Among the Jbâla and Rif Berbers of Morocco she is also frequently killed. For unmarried men, on the other hand, chastity is by Muhammedans at most looked upon as an ideal, almost out of reach. The Caliph Ali said that “with a man who is modest and chaste nobody should find fault.”[57] We are told that the Muhammedans of India consider it inconceivable that a Moslem should have illicit intercourse with a free Muhammedan woman;[58] but connections with slave girls are regarded in a different light.
[51] Leviticus, xix. 29. Deuteronomy, xxiii. 18.
[52] Genesis, xxxviii. 15 sqq.
[53] Ibid. xlix. 8.
[54] Burton, Sindh, p. 295.
[55] Polak, Persien, i. 217.