WHERE WIVES ARE PROPERTY.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1923, Page 4

WHERE WIVES ARE PROPERTY.

I,IVES AT MERCY OF HUSBAND

LONDON, October lo

The position of women in a country where women can be divorced tis easily as a servant is dismissed and whose language Ims no word for ''home" is described with mueli insight and interesting detail by Mrs C. Coilivcr Hi'-e in “Persian Women and Their Mays. it i> a country in which, beyond mailing". women have no career. Tradition sanctions easy divorce and the subjection of women. Ihe "prophet's own giandsou married and divorced about one hundred women.'' V> lion Mahomet was asked; 0, Apostle of God, "by (as lie had announced] are most of the I eople of hell, women? he answered: Because they are ungrateful respecting the kindness and rights of their husI i. lids.

]„ the Moslem world—a man’s world The man is “recommended to do exactly contrary to whatever liis wile may advise him." She is looked upon as a liecessaiy evil. She is not to !«- asked after or spoken of by name. She is her husband's absolute property, and he van do wliat he likes with her. I heard onve of tlie deal'll of two fellow-wives o’- the same day. i expressed astonishment. and asked wlmt tlie illness had liven, and "as told that they had not been ill; someone had put an end tu them. Now. L expressed horror, and was calmly told: it is ‘>"l custom ; thev were his own, and lie could do

wliat lie liked with them. Of course lie did net kill them hiiipell ; smueom cl-c did it for him.

Persian housekeeping m-.-iu- a >impbaffair. “Houses are never eleaned as they are at home; no scrubbing is ever done.” Shelves cut in the thick wails take l!lt ,d clipboards and tables, the m.'it'tres-es and pillows of couches and chans. Wearing apparel, "hen not. in u-e. is folded up in special wrappers, end kept either in » box or on a high shelf.

( oiiiiiuiiug her description of a Persian inlelinr, Mrs Gulliver Rice says: Generally speaking, rooms are nop set. apart as bedrooms. Tlie bedding is put out last tiling at night, and then in the 11 inning rolled up and put in an alcove or recess. Rich and poor alike eat their meals sitting on the lloor. In the majority of houses individual plates are not 1 -d. a llap or cake of bread taking its place. Again, knives are not general, and their broad is always 'broken. 1101 cut.

But Persian sweets are delightful and ~f manv kinds. There is an abund;inee el fruit. Some of the I’ersiaii dishes are unique and delicious. The drinks at a lunch or dinner are always sherbets. Sherbet is not tin elferveseing powder, hut a thick syrup. A most I’cpidar cue is made ol sugar, vinegar and mint.

Many substances are .supposed to conlain. "soul-siiifl." which acts as a pro tection against tin-evil eye. Blood, for instance, is s]i| inkleil oil the doorposts of a new Ilou.se. Soui-stult is iib-o found in certain im-taN. I have seen a woman "illi a large padlock ami two keys tied round ler waist in llie hope thut evil inllueiiee would lie averted and that sin- would soon I,come the mother of a son.