Page:Walter Matthew Gallichan - Women under Polygamy (1914).djvu/101

 infants during ten years, the husband may discharge her. But on whatever pretext, and through whatever fault, a woman is divorced, she has always a claim for proper maintenance.

In the ancient days in India, plurality of wives was far commoner than at the present time. Among the Hindu religionists it is not usual to find two women living as the wives of one man. The people of India are not generally polygamous in the strict sense. Polygamy is the privilege of the rich, but many of the wealthy are married to only one wife. This fact must be recognised, for there are people in Great Britain and America who refer to the polygamy of Indians as though the whole nation practised this form of marriage.

Polygamy is allowed by religion, law, and public opinion. The great Dasaratha, the father of Rama, was said to own 60,000 women. Kings, princes, and noble personages used to maintain large harems. Every woman, from the favourite wife to the lowest slave-girl, might be the sexual consort of her lord if he so desired. There was the fullest outlet for the variety impulse of affluent men.

Sivaji, the Maharajah, married as many as eighteen women in a single day. This was, however, due to a curious error. The ruler wished a wife for himself, and partners for some of his courtiers. A number of