the Carribbee iflands, fhe is not permitted to eat even in prefence of her husband; and yet we are affured (a), that women there obey with fuch fweetnefs and respect, as never to give their husbands occafion to remind them of their duty; "example," adds our fage author, 66 66 an wor thy the imitation of Chriftian wives, "who are daily inftructed from the pulpit "in the duties of obedience and conjugal fidelity, but to very little purpose." Dampier observes in general, that, among all the wild nations he was acquainted with, the women carry the burdens, while the men walk before, and carry nothing but their arms. Women even of the highest rank are not better treated. The fovereign of Giaga, in Africa, has many wives, who are literally his flaves: one carries his bow, one his arrows, and one gives him drink; and while he is drinking, they all fall on their knees, clap their hands, and fing. Not many centuries ago, a law was made in England, prohibiting the New Teftament in English to be read by women, 'prentices, journeymen, (a) Labat's voyages to the American islands. or 1 or ferving men (a). What a pitiful figure muft the poor females have made in that age! In Siberia, and even in Ruffia, the capital excepted, men treat their wives in every refpect as flaves. The regulations of Peter I. put marriage upon a more respectable footing among people of rank; and yet fuch are the brutal manners of the Ruffians, that tyrannical treatment of wives is far from being eradicated. The low condition of the female fex among favages and barbarians, paved the way to polygamy. Savages, excited by a tafte for variety, and ftill more by pride, which is gratified by many fervants, delight in a multiplicity of wives. The pairing principle, though rooted in human nature, makes little figure among favages, yielding to every irregular appetite; and this fairly accounts why polygamy was once universal. It might indeed be thought, that animal love, were there nothing else, should have raised women to fome degree of eftimation among the men. But male favages, utter ftrangers to decency or refinement, gratify animal love (a) 34th and 35th Henry VIII. cap. 1. with as little ceremony as they do hunger or thirst. Hence appears the reason of a practice that will surprise those who are unacquainted with ancient customs; which is, that a man purchased a woman to be his wife, as one purchases an ox or a sheep to be food. Women by marriage became flaves; and no man will give his daughter to be a flave, but for a valuable confideration. The practice was universal. I begin with the Jews. Abraham bought Rebekah, and gave her to his fon Ifaac for a wife (a). Jacob, having nothing else to give, ferved Laban fourteen years for two wives (6). Sechem demanding in marriage Dinah, Jacob's daughter, said, “ Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and "I will give according as ye fhall fay un42 to me: but give me the damfel to "wife (c)." To David demanding Saul's daughter in marriage, Saul faid, "The "king defireth not any dowry, but an "hundred foreskins of the Philiftines (d).” In the Iliad, Agamemnon offers his daugh (a) Genefis, xxiv. 53. (b) Genefis, chap. xxix. (d) 1 Samuel, xviii. 25. ter ter to Achilles for a wife; and says, that he would not demand for her any price. Paufanias reports of Danaus, that no fuitors appearing to demand any of his daughters, he published, that he would give them without dowry. In Homer, there is frequent mention of nuptial gifts from a bridegroom to his bride's father. From terming them gifts, it is probable that the former method of purchase was beginning to wear out. It wore out before the time of Ariftotle; who infers, that their forefathers muft have been a very rude people. The ancient Spaniards purchased their wives. We have the authority of Herodotus and of Heraclides Ponticus, that the Thracians followed the fame practice. The latter adds, that if a wife was ill treated, her relations could demand her back, upon repaying the price they got for her. In the Roman law mention is made of matrimony per aes et libram, which was folemnized by laying down a quantity of brafs with a balance for weighing it, understood to be the price paid for the bride. This must have been once a reality; though it funk down to be a mere ceremony, after it became cufto mary mary for a Roman bride to bring a dowry with her. The Babylonians and the Afsyrians, at ftated times, collected all the marriageable young women, and difpofed of them by auction. Rubruguis, in his voyage to Tartary anno 1253, reports, that there every man bought his wife. “ 'They believe, he adds, that their wives ferve "them in another world as they do in this; for which reason, a widow has no chance for a fecond husband, whom "fhe cannot ferve in the other world." Olaus Magnus, remarking that among the ancient Goths no dower was provided on the bride's part, gives a reason, better fuited perhaps to the time he lived in, than to what he describes. "Apud Gothos, non mulier viro fed vir mulieri dotem affignat; ne conjux, ob magnitudinem "dotis infolefcens, aliquando ex placida "conforte proterva evadet, atque in ma"ritum dominari contendat *;" as if the hazard of petulance in a wife would hinder a man to accept a dower with her : "Among the Goths, a man gave a dowry for "his bride, instead of receiving one with her; to "prevent pride and infolence, that commonly accom"pany riches on the woman's part." |