Behind the Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia: An Account of an Englishwoman's Eight Years' Residence Amongst the Women of the EastHume-Griffith, M. E.
Philosophy
Behind the Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia: An Account of an Englishwoman's Eight Years' Residence Amongst the Women of the East
Hume-Griffith, M. E.
Arabian Peninsula -- Social life and customs; Iran -- Social life and customs
They were very charmed with our little harmonium, and listened with
great delight while I played and sang to them some of our old English
hymns translated into Arabic. One of the ladies trying to play could
not understand why it would not "speak" for her, and upon my moving
the pedals was overjoyed to find that she could "make music." Their
delight at everything was just like that of little children on finding
a new toy. Their visit lasted about three hours, and they went away
promising to come again soon. This hareem is a most exceptionally
happy one. There is only one wife in it, the two elder ladies being
sisters-in-law to the bride, and unmarried. They all seem to live
together in peace and happiness. Unfortunately, this is only the
exception, which always goes to prove the rule, that hareems are not
the abode of peace. How can there be peace when the heart is full
of jealousy and hatred? One such case comes to my mind. There are
two brothers living in one house, one of them being married. After
some years of married life had passed and they remained childless,
he took another wife, and the first one was thrown into misery and
despair. Shortly after this we were awakened one night by hearing
most fearful shrieks and yells coming from this house. The following
day we heard that the two wives had been quarrelling and fighting,
as usual, till at last the husband took the first wife and turned her
forcibly out of doors. Fortunately, her mother's house was near by,
to which she went, and where she remains to this day.
It has been said, and unfortunately too often truly said, that love
has no part in the life of a Moslem woman; and yet it is also true
that they are, as a rule, a most loving and lovable set of people. It
is because they have so little love and kindness in their own lives
that, when it does come to them, their hearts are ready to overflow
in response.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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