Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/482

 CHAPTER XXXIV.

LIFE IN THE ZENĀNA, AND CHĪTĀ HUNTING.

"TEN DURWESH MAY SLEEP UNDER THE SAME BLANKET, BUT TWO KINGS CANNOT EXIST IN ONE KINGDOM ."

"A CONTEMPORARY WIFE, THOUGH A HOORI, IS WORSE THAN A SHE DEVIL ."

Plurality of Wives—Intrigues and Hatred—Arrival at Khāsgunge—The Four Walls—Arwarī Shooting—The Pūtlī-nāch—The Lynx—Introduction to Colonel Gardner's Begam—The Morning Star—The Evening Star—The Nawab of Cambay—The beautiful Gardens—The Bara Deri—Rattler—Chītā Hunting—Antelopes—The sulky Chītā—Heera Sing—Chītā Hunting attended by native Ladies.

1835, Feb.—When a woman of rank marries, two female slaves are given with her, who are also the wives of her husband: this is so completely a custom it is never omitted: nevertheless, "The very voice of a rival wife is intolerable ."

A number of women are considered to add to a man's dignity: they add to his misery most decidedly. This custom being more honoured in the breach than the observance, was not put in force at the marriage of Mr. Gardner with Mulka Begam. "The malice of a fellow-wife is notorious ." It would only be surprising if such were not the case. "A contemporary wife is intolerable, even in effigy ." In native life the greatest misery is produced from a plurality of wives: they, very naturally, hate