Voltaire has observed, "Le divorce est probablement de la même date à peu près que le mariage; je crois, pourtant, que le mariage est de quelques semaines plus ancien; c'est à dire qu'on se querella avec sa femme au bout de quinze jours, qu'on se battit au bout d'un mois, et qu'on s'en sépara après six semaines de cohabitation." If such be a true picture of human nature, it is not too highly drawn for a country where polygamy is practised, since it is no hard matter for a man to part with one wife, when he has several others. The privilege of divorce would be somewhat tyrannical if allowed only to the men, but in Turkey, the women themselves may exercise this prerogative, if they are maltreated, or not properly provided for, with at least the requisite "bread and candles." A man may put away his wife merely by uttering in the hearing of a third party, the ominous word "bosh," null, void, which even if carelessly spoken renders the man and wife strangers to each other, the lady feeling obliged to assume her veil, and conceal her charms; and in case of reconciliation, a second marriage ceremony is necessary. The woman, on her part, has the privilege of leaving her husband, by declaring before the Cadi, Djanum azad, nikeahum helal--I forfeit my dowry, and claim my freedom. It is fortunate that divorce is very disreputable, and is seldom practised by either party if they have any respect for public opinion, or regard for themselves; otherwise, wives and husbands would be constantly changing hands, as was the practice among the old Arabs, in the time of Mohammed. This custom was decried by the Prophet, "It shall not be lawful for thee to take other women to wife hereafter, nor to exchange any of thy wives for them." The moral effect of a facility of divorce is to keep both parties on their good behavior, but at the same time a spirit of extreme selfishness is induced in the women. For being in constant apprehension of a sudden separation, they look upon their husbands as a means of revenue, and endeavor to store up as much jewelry, clothing etc., as possible, to be ready in case of emergency. The display of shawls and diamonds upon the persons of women, even of the poorest classes, is not from a feeling of vanity, but rather an exhibition of the extent of the personal wealth they have extorted from their lords and masters. In case of separation, the children are supported until they are seven years old, by the father; after which the boys remain under the paternal care, and the girls belong to the mother; unless some other arrangement is made by mutual consent.