394 



CEREMONIES. 



occasion must be eaten, even if guests be sought 

 in tlie streets; this indeed is the rule of Arab 

 feasts. Half the Mahr, or settlement-money, should 

 be paid before the Eatihah is recited; the re- 

 mainder is claimed upon separation or after the 

 husband's death. A woman cannot demand di- 

 vorce except for the usual legal reasons, and the 

 ' Iddeh,' or interval before re-marriage, is three 

 months and ten days. After a Khitmah or per- 

 fection of the Koran, the relict, who has hitherto 

 been confined to the house, is bathed by her femi- 

 nine friends, in token of readiness for engagement. 

 Many widows refuse to change their condition, and 

 apply themselves to money-making by commerce, 

 plantations, or slave-dealing. I heard of one jovial 

 ' Armalah ' who invited Europeans to petit soupers 

 and parties fines, in which merriment takes preced- 

 ence of modesty. The Arab women of Zanzibar 

 appear unusually spirited, especially when com- 

 pared with their lords ; in every great house some 

 energetic petticoat or rather trowsers takes or 

 forces her husband or her brother to take the lead — 

 perhaps, as nearer home, they are the more cour- 

 ageous and venturous in braving danger because 

 the risk and the brunt do not fall upon their 

 heads. Men of pure family will not give their 

 daughters to any but fellow- clansmen. They 



