Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 63959-h.htm or 63959-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/63959/63959-h/63959-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/63959/63959-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/cu31924023537552 Transcriber’s note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). THE HARIM AND THE PURDAH [Illustration: DANCING GIRL OF JEYPORE. Frontispiece.] THE HARIM AND THE PURDAH Studies of Oriental Women by ELIZABETH COOPER Author of “My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard,” “The Soul Traders,” etc. Illustrated New York The Century Company (All rights reserved) (Printed in Great Britain) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 9 CHAPTER I. EGYPTIAN WOMEN OF THE PAST 19 II. THE MODERN EGYPTIAN WOMAN 39 III. MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, POLYGAMY 56 IV. THE WOMAN OF THE DESERT 69 V. INDIAN SOCIAL LIFE 85 VI. INDIAN HOME LIFE 100 VII. MARRIAGE—THE GOAL OF WOMAN 113 VIII. INDIAN MOTHERHOOD 130 IX. WOMAN’S SORROW 143 X. HYDERABAD AND THE MOHAMMEDAN WOMAN 154 XI. MOHAMMEDANISM WITHIN THE ZENANA 170 XII. BURMAH 179 XIII. BURMESE RELIGION AND SUPERSTITION 200 XIV. THE LADY OF CHINA 211 XV. THE RED CHAIR OF MARRIAGE 240 XVI. WHEN CHINESE WOMEN DIE 254 XVII. CHANGING CHINA 260 XVIII. JAPANESE WOMEN AT HOME 271 CONCLUSION 307 ILLUSTRATIONS DANCING GIRL OF JEYPORE _Frontispiece_ Facing page “TWO WOMEN SHALL BE GRINDING AT THE MILL” 9 EGYPTIAN WOMAN OF THE LOWER CLASS 19 RAMESES AND HIS WIFE 20 A WATER-CARRIER 36 THE TAILOR 44 A WOMAN OF THE MASSES 64 CHILDREN ON THE NILE 66