Page 573 - Neglected Arabia (1916-1920)

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taken another woman, and perhaps your other women ha.e also heard
of it, for gossip is a very wicked thing and often makes enemies even
in one's own houses. You should return,' he advised me, ‘to your
bride and teach all the others it will not be well for them so to treat an
honorable man.'
“After going to my friend’s house and eating with him, I again
journeyed down the river to the home of my friend, the father of the
bride. He met me in a friendly manner, and with other friends we
had a pleasant conversation. Then he invited me to see him alone in
an upper room. After we were seated, he said,
u t
My friends down below have come for some money I owe them,
and so I must ask you to pay me the rest of the money due me now.'
It l
But I cannot give it to you now,' I answered him, ‘but I will
give it to you as soon as the date-season comes, just as I told you, and
I will give it to you with interest, if you will only wait, for do I not
desire your daughter more than any other?' I complimented him.
‘Indeed, it will grieve me very much if any unpleasant circumstance
mars our happy union, especially now,' I added.
“But he would not listen, again demanding the money, as he needed
it to pay his honorable gambling debts, and said if I could not pay at
once I must leave. With great grief I left his presence, and now.
here I am, khatun, with five wives, and no home to lav my honorable
head. What can I do ? What would a man in your country do, under
such circumstances? My first four wives have become very good
friends and thus all my troubles come from their being friends. While
they did not know each other I could keep my spirit in peace, but now
Allah must help me, for they are all against me, and my head is bowed
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down. Can you tell me what to do ?"
He was much surprised that Christians would be severely pun­
ished for having more than one wife, and he went away cursing Chris­
tianity and praising Allah that he belonged to the true religion of Mu­
hammad, and declaring,
“Allah will have to be my helper!"

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A BBDOUIW MARKET

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