Page:Walter Matthew Gallichan - Women under Polygamy (1914).djvu/134

 the appreciations of orthodox Christian writers, free from that spirit of bigotry and rancour that so often distinguishes the ardent apostle of piety. These testimonies must be set by the side of the statements of crusaders, pledged to undermine the beliefs of a nation by all the methods within their power.

It is only common justice that we should consider both sides of this question dispassionately. The evidence of Syed Ameer Ali and Mohammad Baraktullah, two highly cultured Moslem writers, shows that the women of the Mohammedan religion in India are neither down-trodden, nor discontented. Indeed, they often enjoy a power and influence of great importance in society and in politics. Although the women of Bhopal are devout followers of Mohammed, their ascendency is so complete that they rule the state.