‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎221r] (448/722)

from the consciousness of security, not the absence of shame. Though in
general their complexion is dark and sunburnt, they have sometimes, when
young, a considerable share of beauty. A sense of their free condition gives
lustre to their eyes; and they often add to fine features a very graceful
form. But among the lower orders of this class, their beauty is soon
destroyed by hard labour and continual exposure to the climate.
“ The poverty and usages of the wandering tribes often prevent the men
from marrying even the number of wives allowed by the law. Many of
them have only one ; and unless she is, old, barren, or unfit to work,
they do not marry another. The reason is, that they can seldom afford
to support more than one wife; and from the liberty which the females
enjoy, their quarrels, where there are several in a family, would be
seriously embarrassing; and marriage, which is considered as one of
the chief bonds of union between the men of a tribe, would become a
constant source of discord and contention. The practice of hiring
wives for a certain period, which prevails in the cities and towns of Persia, is
held in abhorrence by the females of tribes; and these have frequently been
known to attack priests in the most violent manner, whom they believed
to have sanctioned an usage which they deem so degrading. Though
we may conclude, from what has been stated, that these women enjoy more
freedom and consideration than the other females of Persia, they are still
remote from that rank which has been assigned to the sex among the civilised
nations of Europe. They toil, while their lord spends his hours in indolence or
amusement, and are regarded more as servants than as associates. If a man
of a wandering tribe has not so many wives and slaves as the religion he
professes permits, or as his brother Muhammadan of the city, it is merely, as
has been stated, because his poverty, or the condition of the society to which
he belongs, limits his desires. The moment that his situation alters, he is
prompt to riot in every species of dissipation ; and the partner, who more than
shares his toils, has no chance of an equal partition in any good fortune that
may attend him. If he is raised to a high station, he deems an. indulgence of
his sessual appetites one of the chief pleasures of advancement; and when he
becomes an inhabitant of a city, he at once adopts the customs of a citizen.
His first wives, if he has more than one, are compelled to sacrifice the liberty
they before enjoyed, and to endure that neglect which is the natural conse
quence of his power to obtain younger and more beautiful females. Among
these tribes, however, maternal claims are always respected. Hie mothers
influence over her son usually continues through life ; and she is ready to
maintain that authority, which is grounded on habit and affection, by
ministering to his gratification. It is her duty to preside over his family ;
and if he is rich, he usually entrusts to her, not only the choice of his female
partners, but their management. An anticipation of the enjoyment of this
power makes the women in Persia anxiously desire to have male children.
The birth of a son is hailed with joy; that of a daughter is always a
disappointment.
“ These observations on the usages of the wandering tribes chiefly apply
to those of Persian and Turkish origin. The Arabian tribes subject to Persia,
who inhabit the shores of the gulf, are more assimilated m then habits to the
people from whom they are derived than to those amid whom they dwell.
They continue to speak Arabic, and preserve almost all Hie customs of their
original country. They in general dress like the inhabitants of Arabia wear-
in 0 ', instead of the cap of the Persians, a light turban ; and are usually coveied