attending to the male fex only, without paying any regard to the other sex, it ought to be confidered, that a man, by taking a fecond wife, prevents fome other man from having any. The argument for polygamy would indeed be conclufive, were ten females born for one male, as is erroneously faid to be the cafe in Bantam : But, as an equality of males and females is the invariable rule of Nature, the argument has no force. All men are born equal by Nature; and to permit polygamy in any degree, is to authorise fome to ufurp the privilege of others.

Thus, in hot climates, women remain in the fame humble and dependent state, in which all women were originally, when all men were favages. As polygamy is a forced state, contradictory to nature, locks and bars are the only fure means for reftraining a number of women confined to one husband. When the King of Perfia, with his wives, removes from Ifpachan to any of his villas, the hour of his departure, and the street through which he is to pafs, are proclaimed three days before, in order that every man may keep out of the way. Women, by the law

of

!

of Hindoftan, are not admitted to be witneffes, even in a civil caufe; and I blush to acknowledge that, in Scotland, the fame law has not been long in difufe.

In contradiction to the climate, Chriftianity has banished polygamy from Ethiopia, though the judges are far from being fevere upon that crime. The heat of the climate makes them wish to indulge in a plurality of wives, even at the expence of purchasing each of them. Among the Chriftians of Congo polygamy is in use, as formerly when they were Pagans. To be confined to one wife during life, is held by the moft zealous Chriftians there, to be altogether irrational: Rather than be fo confined, they would renounce Chriftianity.

Befide polygamy, many other customs depend on the nature of the matrimonial and vary according to its difengagement, ferent kinds. Marriage-ceremonies, for that reafon, vary in different countries, and at different times. Where the practice is to purchase a wife, whether among favages or among pampered people in hot climates, payment of the price completes the marriage without other ceremony. Other ceremonies, however, are fometimes

any

prac

practifed. In old Rome, the bride was attended to the bridegroom's house with a female flave carrying a diftaff and a fpindle, importing that the ought to spin for the family. Among the favages of Canada, and of the neighbouring countries, a strap, a kettle, and a faggot, are put in the bride's cabin, as fymbols of her duty, viz. to carry burdens, to dress victuals, and to provide wood. On the other hand, the bride, in token of her flavery, takes her axe, cuts wood, bundles it up, and lays it before the door of the bridegroom's hut. All the falutation fhe receives is, "It is time to

go to reft." The inhabitants of Sierra Leona, a negro country, have in all their towns a boarding-school, where young ladies are educated for a year, under the care of a venerable old gentleman. When their education is completed, they are carried in their beft attire to a public affembly; which may be termed a matrimonial market, because there young men convene to make a choice. Thofe who fit themselves to their fancy, pay the dowry; and, over and above, gratify the old fuperintendant for his extraordinary care in educating the bride. In the island of Java, the bride, in token of

fuba

subjection, washes the bridegroom's feet ; and this is a capital ceremony. In Ruffia, the bride prefents to the bridegroom a bundle of rods, to be used against her when fhe deferves to be chaftifed; and at the fame time she pulls off his boots. The prefent Empress, intent upon reforming the rude manners of her subjects, has discountenanced that ceremony among people of fashion. Very different were the manners. of Peru, before the Spanish conqueft. The bridegroom carried fhoes to the bride, and put them on with his own hands. But there, purchafing of wives was unknown. Marriage-ceremonies in Lapland are directed by the fame principle. It is the cuftom there for a man to make presents to his children of rain-deer; and young women, fuch as have a large ftock of these animals, have lovers in plenty. A young man looks for fuch a wife, at a fair, or at a meeting for paying taxes. He carries to the house of the young woman's parents, fome of his relations; being folicitous in particular to have an eloquent fpeaker. They are all admitted except the lover, who must wait till he be called in. After drinking fome fpirits, brought along for

the

the purpose, the spokesman addreffes the father in humble terms, bowing the knee, as if he were introduced to a prince. He ftyles him, the worshipful father, the high and mighty father, the beft and moft illuftrious father, &c. &c.

In viewing the chain of caufes and effects, inftances fometimes occur of bizarre facts, ftarting from the chain without any cause that can be discovered. The marriageceremonies among the Hottentots are of that nature. After all matters are adjusted among the old people, the young couple are fhut up by themfelves; and pafs the night in ftruggling for fuperiority, which proves a very serious work where the bride is reluctant. If the perfevere to the laft without yielding, the young man is difcarded; but, if he prevail, which commonly happens, the marriage is completed by another ceremony, no lefs fingular. The men and women squat on the ground in different circles, the bridegroom in the centre of one, and the bride in the centre of another. The Suri, or mafter of religious ceremonies, piffes on the bridegroom; who receives the stream with eagernefs, and rubs it into the furrows of the fat with which he is covered,

VOL. II.

H