[471]. A vulgar diminutive of “má,” water.
[472]. More commonly called “nárgeeleh:” the Persian pipe.
[473]. The dark-complexioned girl has two white roses on her cheeks, instead of red.
[474]. Or, thou who hast.
[475]. In the chapter on religion and laws.
[476]. Since this was written, public female dancing and prostitution were prohibited by the government, in the beginning of June, 1834. Women detected infringing this new law are to be punished with fifty stripes for the first offence; and, for repeated offences, are to be also condemned to hard labour for one or more years: men are obnoxious to the discipline of the bastinado when parties in such offences. But there is a simple plan for evading punishment in cases of this kind, which, it is said, will be adopted by many persons. A man may marry a venal female, legally, and divorce her the next day. He has only to say two or three words, and pay a small sum of money, which he calls her dowry. He says, “Will you marry me?” She answers, “Yes.” “For how much?” he asks. She names the sum, and he gives it: she is then his lawful wife. The next day he tells her that she is divorced from him. He need be under little apprehension of her demanding the expenses of her maintenance during the period of her ’eddeh, before the expiration of which she cannot legally marry another man; for the marriage which has just been contracted and dissolved is only designed as a means of avoiding punishment in case of her being detected with the man; and otherwise is kept secret; and the sum which she can demand for her maintenance during the above-mentioned period is very paltry in comparison with that which she may obtain by taking a new husband every two or three days.
[477]. Lib. v., Epigr. 79.
[478]. Sat. xi., v. 162.
[479]. Commonly pronounced “Barám’keh.”
[480]. From the effect which it produced, it is probable that the dance performed by the daughter of Herodias was of the kind here described. See Matthew xiv. 6, 7, or Mark vi. 22, 23.