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838 
him at all, and others, who do, en- 
ter not into discourse with him; 
and the women are so obstinate in 
this respect, that their husbands can 
never turn off one of the servants, 
but his very complaint against them 
is a recommendation; and his re- 
commendation has the effeét of a 
complaint, by subjecting them to 
their mistress’s resentment. 
‘¢ Contrary to this is the manner 
ofthe Kuropean ladies, who have 
not their own will with their chil- 
-dren and servants, but live more 
like free and familiar guests in their 
husband’s houses; and the houshold 
establishment and equipage being 
common to both, if any part, as the 
carriage, for example, is previously 
employed by the one, the other has 
to wait till it is disengaged : of this 
there is no doubt, that if a quarrel 
ensues between an English husband 
and wife, the wife has to leave the 
house, and seek her dinner, either 
at her father’s, or a_ friend’s; 
whereas, in Asia, it is the husDand 
who has to go out; for frequently 
the utensils of cookery are not 
kept in the murdannah. 
** Fourth, The freedom, by cus- 
tom, of the Asiatic women, from 
assisting in the business of the hus- 
band, or service of his guests ; 
whereas this is generally the business 
of Kuropean wives, whether their 
husbands be of a genteel business, 
such as jewellery, mercery, or per- 
fumery; or the more servile ones: I 
have seen many rise from their din- 
ner, to answer the demands of a 
purchaser; and although these du- 
ties are not required of the ladies, 
yet some, especially the entertaining 
of the guests, carving, and helping 
the dishes at table, and making the 
tea and coffee, are generally per- 
formed by them. Now the Asiatic 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
ladies have no such duties at all, 
but live in the manner before de- 
scribed. / 
‘¢ Fifth, The greater deference 
the Asiatic ladies tind paid to their 
humours, and prescriptive right of 
teasing their husbands, by every 
pretext, which is considered as an 
essential quality of beauty ; for, if 
a wife does not put these in prac- 
tice, but is submissive to her hus- 
band’s will in every thing, her 
charms very soon lose their bril- 
liancy in his eyes. ‘Thus, when a 
wife goes to visit her father, she 
will not return to her husband till 
he has come himself several times to 
fetch her: and being as often vexed 
by breaking her promise. And 
every day when dinner is served, 
by pretending to, be engaged at the 
time, she keeps her husband wait- 
ing, and does not come till the meat 
is cold ; and in the same manner at 
bed-time; for returning quickly 
from their father’s house, is consi- 
dered as a sign of fondness for the 
husband, which looks ill, as they 
think ; and coming soon fo dinner, 
in their opinion, betrays the dispo- 
sition of a hungry beggar. In these 
and such cases, the husband has no- 
thing for it but patience ; nay, it 
ever pleases him. 1 have known 
many beautiful women constant in 
their affection, and obedient to their 
husbands night and day; whom, for 
want of these qualities, their hus- 
bands quickly grew tired of, and 
unjustly deserted for the sake of 
plain women who possessed them. 
‘¢ Sixth, The greater reliance . 
placed by the Asiatic husband in 
their wives’ virtue, both from law 
and custom. Although European 
ladies can go out of doors, and dis- 
course with strangers, yet this is 
not allowed, unless they havea trusty 
person 
