CHAPTER XXXIV.
LIFE IN THE ZENĀNA, AND CHĪTĀ HUNTING.
“TEN DURWESH MAY SLEEP UNDER THE SAME BLANKET, BUT TWO KINGS CANNOT EXIST IN ONE KINGDOM[133].”
“A CONTEMPORARY WIFE, THOUGH A HOORI, IS WORSE THAN A SHE DEVIL[134].”
Plurality of Wives—Intrigues and Hatred—Arrival at Khāsgunge—The Four Walls—Arwarī Shooting—The Pūtlī-nāch—The Lynx—Introduction to Colonel Gardner’s Begam—The Morning Star—The Evening Star—The Nawab of Cambay—The beautiful Gardens—The Bara Deri—Rattler—Chītā Hunting—Antelopes—The sulky Chītā—Heera Sing—Chītā Hunting attended by native Ladies.
1835, Feb.—When a woman of rank marries, two female slaves are given with her, who are also the wives of her husband: this is so completely a custom it is never omitted: nevertheless, “The very voice of a rival wife is intolerable[135].”
A number of women are considered to add to a man’s dignity: they add to his misery most decidedly. This custom being more honoured in the breach than the observance, was not put in force at the marriage of Mr. Gardner with Mulka Begam. “The malice of a fellow-wife is notorious[136].” It would only be surprising if such were not the case. “A contemporary wife is intolerable, even in effigy[137].” In native life the greatest misery is produced from a plurality of wives: they, very naturally, hate each other most cordially, and quarrel all day. The children, also, from their cradles are taught to hate the children of the other wives; nevertheless, the following extract proves, that she is considered a wife worthy of praise, who loves the offspring of her husband and another woman:—
“A woman may be married by four qualifications; one, on account of her money; another, on account of the nobility of her pedigree; another, on account of her beauty; the fourth, on account of her faith: therefore, look out for a religious woman; but if you do it from any other consideration, may your hands be rubbed in dirt.”—“The world and all things in it are valuable; but the most valuable thing in the world is a virtuous woman.”—“The best women, that ride on camels, I mean the women of Arabia, are the virtuous of the Koreish; they are the most affectionate to infants, whether they be their own or their husband’s by other women; and they are the most careful of their husband’s property.” The proverb is at variance with the opinion of the prophet, since the former asserts, “A contemporary wife may be good, but her child is bad[138].” As the means of power over their husbands, native women value their children very much, and are miserable if they have none.
A zenāna is a place of intrigue, and those who live within four walls cannot pursue a straight path: how can it be otherwise, where so many conflicting passions are called forth? If a man make a present to one wife, he must make a similar offering to all the rest, to preserve peace and quietness. The wives must have separate houses or apartments; were it not so, they would agree as well as caged tigers. The kur’ān permits a Musalmān to have four wives; the proverb says, “The man is happy who has no she goat[139].” Atàa records, that the prophet had nine wives; and from Safíah, who was the last of them who died, he wished to be divorced; but she said, “Keep me with your wives, and do not divorce me, peradventure I may be of the number of your wives in paradise.”
Some authorities assert, that the prophet had eighteen wives: Atàa only mentions nine. To recompense his warlike followers for allowing them only four wives each, he gives them the mutâh marriage for any period they may choose with the wives of their enemies taken in battle.