THE POMEGRANATE 287 



of his marriage to the daughter of Li Tsu-sou ffi$C. The latter 

 explained that the pomegranate encloses many seeds, and implies the 

 wish for many sons and grandsons. Thus the fruit is still a favorite 

 marriage gift or plays a r61e in the marriage feast. 1 The same is the 

 case in modern Greece. Among the Arabs, the bride, when dismounting 

 before the tent of the bridegroom, receives a pomegranate, which she 

 smashes on the threshold, and then flings the seeds into the interior of 

 the tent. 2 The Arabs would have a man like the pomegranate, bitter- 

 sweet, mild and affectionate with his friends in security, but tempered 

 with a just anger if the time call him to be a defender in his own or in 

 his neighbor's cause. 3 



1 See, for instance, H. DOR, Recherches sur les superstitions en Chine, pt. I , 

 Vol. II, p. 479- 



2 A. MUSIL, Arabia Petraea, Vol. Ill, p. 191. 



8 C. M. DOUGHTY, Travels in Arabia Deserta, Vol. I, p. 564. 



