2 8o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



weeks) retire to Yemen, and other neighbouring countries, 

 which abound in every fort of provifion. 



Upon this is founded the obfervation, that of all Maho- 

 metan countries none are fo monogam as thofe of Jidda, 

 and no where are there fo many unmarried women, altho' 

 this is the country of their prophet, and the permiffion of 

 marrying four wives was allowed in this diftrict in the firfl 

 inflance, and afterwards communicated to all the tribes. 



But Mahomet, in his permiffion of plurality of wives, 

 feems conftantly to have been on his guard, againft fuffer- 

 ing that, which was intended for the welfare of his people, 

 from operating in a different manner. He did not permit 

 a man to marry two, three, or four wives, unlefs he could 

 maintain them. He was interefted for the rights and rank 

 of thefe women ; and the man fo marrying was obliged 

 to fhew before the Cadi, or fome equivalent officer, or 

 judge, that it was in his power to fupport them, according 

 to their birth. It was not fo with concubines, with women 

 who were purchafed, or who were taken in war. Every 

 man enjoyed thefe at his pleafure, and their peril, that is, 

 whether he was able to maintain them or not. 



From this great fcarcity of provifions, which is the re- 

 mit of an extraordinary concourfe to a place ahnoft defti- 

 tute of the neceffaries of life, few inhabitants of Jidda can 

 avail themfelves of the privilege granted him by Mahomet. 

 He therefore cannot marry more than one wife, becaufe he 

 cannot maintain more, and from this caufe arifes the want 

 of people, and the large number of unmarried women. 



When 



