Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/163

Rh promises a certain sum of money, or some object that may please, as a handkerchief, a cap, &c., according to his means. Either a son or daughter may be announced by calling the blessing on the bridegroom or bride,, Mubarak el 'Areess, or , Mubarak el 'Arooss, "Blessed be the bridegroom or the bride." The father answers, if it is a boy, "May God bless you, or give you boys," or, "At your wedding" (rejoice),, Fi'ursak; and if it is a girl, he says the same, and may make an offer of the girl, saying, , 'Alah hahl eadak, "Upon the choice of your hand." The other may accept, and say, "I have accepted," or decline by saying, "God bless you Abu so and so." If the girl is really accepted, the betrothal is at once confirmed by bringing a sacrifice, on which the fatiha is read and the terms of the marriage conditions settled; if this is not done, the acceptation is not ratified, though people of honour may not take back their word. When Noah had a daughter, a sheikh came and brought his blessing, and Noah answered, "Upon the choice of your hand," and the sheikh accepted. A second sheikh came and did the same, and a third came and did the same, and Noah promised his daughter to three different sheikhs. When his daughter was of age, the first sheikh came and married her. Then the second sheikh came, and Noah remembered his promise, and in his distress he turned his she-ass into a girl and gave her in marriage, The third sheikh came round, and Noah turned his bitch into a girl and gave her in marriage. After some time sheikh number two came and asked Noah why he had such a stubborn, stupid daughter, whom he has to beat continually, and who eats barley and grass like a donkey. So Noah confessed his fault, and told him how he had dealt carelessly when he promised his daughter again after having promised her a first time. A few days afterwards sheikh number three complained to Noah that his wife was very ugly, would scream at him for the least thing, and even turn to eat raw meat and carcasses, so Noah had to explain and excuse himself. But up to this day three kinds of women may be distinguished: those with patches on their knees, who are descendants of the human daughter, the patches being there in consequence of the number of prayers said; those with patches on the back, from the stripes they receive, these are descendants of the she-ass daughter; and those with patches on the breast, from continual rubbing and scratching, as dogs do, they are descendants of the bitch-daughter. Women in their separation are not allowed into the presence of a woman in child-bed. Very serious illness is believed to follow such visits.

Question 4. How long is a child suckled?

Answer. Generally till the mother is again with child, but in some cases longer, and sometimes a boy may be seen sucking with his newborn sister. This is, of course, only with very fond mothers. In some