By their religion they are obliged to wash before their prayers, which are five times in the twenty-four hours[470], and also every time they ease nature. As they eat chiefly with their fingers, they are likewise under a necessity to wash after every meal, and the more cleanly do it before meals also. Besides, every time they cohabit with their women, they must go to the bagnio before they can say their prayers; so that they are almost all day long dabbling in water. Though by law, or rather from an implied toleration[471], they are allowed four wives, and as many concubines, or more properly female-slaves, as they can or care to maintain; yet as they are obliged to pay money for their wives, few of any rank have more than two; the poorer sort have seldom more than one, and hardly ever a concubine. Those of middling circumstances rarely exceed three or four; though some I have known, of greater opulence, have kept forty, exclusive of those employed in the menial offices of the family. It may appear strange how such a number should agree tolerably well together; and in fact the master of the family hath very frequently enough to do to keep the peace among them. But if we consider, that they are accustomed from their infancy to a servile obedience, that the husband can at pleasure divorce his wife without assigning any cause, and sell such of his slaves as he has had no children by, it will not appear so extraordinary that they live together in a tolerable degree of harmony. On the other hand, the wife has also a check upon him; for if he divorces his wife, it is attended with expence, as he must not only lose all the money she at first cost him, but there is generally a sum equal to that stipulated by the contract, to be paid in case he should at any time divorce her. In this country marriages are commonly brought about by the ladies: and the mothers, in order to find out a proper wife for their sons, take all opportunities of introducing themselves into company where they expect to have a sight of a young woman who may be disengaged; and, when they have met with one they think will be agreeable, they propose to the mother a match between her and the young man. This puts the family upon enquiring into his character and circumstances; and, if matters are likely to be adjusted, she is formally demanded of her parents by the father, the price is fixed that he is to pay for her, and a licence is procured from the _kadè_, for such a person to marry such a woman: each of the young folks then appoint a proxy, who meet with the _imaum_, and several of the male relations; and, after witnesses have been examined to prove those are the proxies regularly appointed, he asks the one, If he is willing to buy the bride for such a sum of money? and the other, If he is satisfied with the sum? To which having received answers in the affirmative, he joins their hands; and the money being paid, the bargain is concluded with a prayer out of the Koran.