Ohfervations &c. go^ 



The Cuftom which the Nafamones ' had formerly of pljo-ht-^'^'' Aigedne 

 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 Contra6t is to be firft of all agreed 

 upon betwixt the Parents, wherein exprefs Mention is made 

 not only of the Saddock [^^^^] 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 fummated, at which Time, the Relations being withdrawn , 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 of Europe T/-e w^fedoth 

 pay to the weaker Sex, are looked upon here as Extravagances, gf^"/ ^^-^ ' 

 and fo many Infringements of that Law of Nature which afiigns^ ''"^^" 

 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 

 Faftiion; 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 rJi'sJfl i -nim ^tavTWL' Ix •} ^£}f JiJOii -ttihy, i^ aijif Ik fr IrspK ^nff*. Herod. Mel pom. f. 172. 

 2 A Gold and Silver Sarmah, one or two Setts of Ear Rings, Bracelets and Shekel-;, a Gold 

 Chain to hang over their Breads, with half a dozen Vefts, fome of Brocade, others of rich 

 Silk, arc ufually the Wedding Cloaths of a Lady of Fartiion. Habits and Ornaments of the 

 like Kind were given to the Bride in the Time of Akahain. Thus a golden ear Ring of half a 

 Shekel weight \/zs given to Rebekah, and two Bracelets for her Hands of ten Shekels u^eight of 

 Gold. Gen. 24. 22. Ahrzhzm's Servant nlfo brought forth Jewels of Silver, and Jeti'elsofGold, 

 and Raiment, and gave them to ^<ihtk.3\\. V. yj. 3 Every Woman that is married has at 

 Icaft one Female Slave (who is ufually a Blacky) to attend her; whilil others have two or 

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

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

 14. f 9-) '^"'' herDamfels. V.61. thst Laban (Gen. 2^^. 2^.) gave unto his Daughter Leah, (when 

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

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

 this Day, for the Children of the greateft E}neer to attend their Flocks ; as we find (Gea. 

 29. 9.) Rachel kfpt the Sheep of her Fat her Lahav. 



Ggggx grinding 



