POLYGAMY 193 



an age to understand the ceremony, the female Hindu 

 is driven into marriage by religious considerations, 

 the ceremony being regarded as a sacrament essential 

 to her entrance into that final state of beatitude which 

 is the hope of every follower of Brama. Unlike the 

 Mahomedans, with whom marriage is merely a tem- 

 porary arrangement, the Hindus have contrived an 

 elaborate series of nuptial rites, which are to be ex- 

 plained no doubt by the terribly serious nature of the 

 contract from the point of view of Hindu law and 

 custom. But while the Mahomedan woman may 

 be, and sometimes is, put to death for adultery, the 

 Hindu wife who has been faithless is merely deserted. 

 Within the sphere of English influence, at all events, 

 she is not liable to further punishment. No other 

 course could be sanctioned by English opinion. 

 Married while children, Hindu wives are often 

 neglected while stiU young ; at the best they share 

 the attentions of a husband with several rivals. To 

 punish their inconstancy while the husband is allowed 

 to fill his zenana with women would, according to 

 Western notions, be a monstrous injustice. 



Among the Mongolians, who form the third great 

 section of the polygamous races of the world, marriage 

 isconducted pretty much upon the Mahomedan plan — 



o 



