Ohfervations &c. 505 



The Cuilom which U\q Nafamones ' had formerly of ^Χ\φι~τι,β kigtxm^ 

 ing their Troth, by drinking out of each others Hands, is, at "'^'^' "" 

 this Time, the only Ceremony that is ufed by the ^Iger'mes 

 in their Marriages. But the Contraot is to be firft of all agreed 

 upon betwixt the Parents, wherein exprefs Mention is made 

 not only of the Saddock [y^o•^^'] as they call that particular 

 Sum of Money which the Bridegroom fettles upon the Bride, 

 but likewife of the feveral Changes of Raiment, Quantity of 

 Jewels % and Number of Slaves ', that the Bride is to be at- 

 tended with, when She firft waits upon her Husband. The 

 Parties never fee one another 'till the Marriage is to be con- 

 fummated, at which Time, the Relations being withdrawn , 

 the Bridegroom proceeds firft to unveil his Bride, and then to 

 undrefs her. Upon Forfeiture of the Saddock, the Husband 

 can put away his Wife when he pleafeth ; though he cannot 

 take her again, notwithftanding the ftrongeft Sollicitations are 

 made in his Favour, 'till She be married and bedded to ano- 

 ther Man. 



The Civility and Refped which the Politer Nations oiEurope'rhe mfedoth 

 pay to the weaker Sex, are looked upon here as Extravagances, W^f^/^'^ ' 

 and fo many InfringementsofthatLawof Nature which affigns^'"'"^^* 

 to Man the Preeminence. For the Matrons of this Country, 

 (as a great Perfon of the Law hath determined with Relation 

 to thofe of England) are confidered only as Servants of better 

 Fafhion; yet who notwithftanding are to have the greateft 

 Share of Toil and Bufinefs upon their Hands. Whilft the lazy 

 Husbands repofe themfelves under fome neighbouring Shade, 

 and the young Men and Maidens' attend the Flocks, the 

 Wives are all the Day taken up either in attending their Looms, 



I W'lsiat -n'tm •^iavrai• h ί ;^£?ί• ΛΛ? T/fJc, itj axnii Ικ'ίτ Ιτϊ'ρκ ■mta. Herod. Me! pom. 5. 172. 

 2 A Gold and Silver Surmah, one or two Sects of Ear Rings, Bracelets and Shekel•, a Gold 

 Chain to hang over their Brcails, with half a dozen Veils, iome of Brocade, others of rich 

 Silk, are ufually the Wedding Cloaths of a Lady of Failiion. Habits and Ornaments ofthe 

 like Kind were given tothe Bride in the Time oi Abraham. Thus a golden ear Ring of half a 

 Shekel ti^e'igbtv/as given to Rebekah, and two Bracelets for her Hands of ten Shekels weight of 

 Gold. Gen. 24. 22. Abraham's Servant alio brought forth Jewels of Silver, and JewelsofGold, 

 and Raiment, and gave them fo Rebekah. V. f^. 3 Every Woman that is married has at 

 leaft one Female Slave (who is ufually a Black^ to attend her; whilil: others have two or 

 more according to their Rank and Quality. In this Manner we find tJiat Hagar was Sarah'^ 

 Handmaid ; that Rebekah when She was betrothed to Ifaac, Avas attended by her Niirfe (Gen. 

 14. J9.) and her Damfels. V. or. that Laban (Gen. 24. 24..)gave unto his Daughter Leah, (when 

 ihe was married to Jaccb) Zilpah his Maid, for a Handmaid; and unto Rachel (V . 29.) 

 (upon the like Occafion) Biihah his Handmaid to be her Maid. 4 It is cuftomary, even to 

 this Day, lor the Children of the greateft Emcer to attend their Flocks ; as we find {Gen. 

 29. p.) Rachel kept the Sheep of her Father Lzhia. 



Ggggx grinding 



