Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 2.djvu/32

 Musalmānī ladies so fond of a hooq[)u], I concluded the Mahratta ladies indulged in the same luxury.

The Mahratta men smoke the hooq[)u] as much as all other natives, and the Bā'ī had a recipe for making tobacco cakes, that were highly esteemed in camp. The cakes are, in diameter, about four inches by one inch in thickness; a small quantity added to the prepared tobacco usually smoked in a hooq[)u] imparts great fragrance; the ingredients are rather difficult to procure.

Speaking of the privations endured by Hindoo widows, her Highness mentioned that all luxurious food was denied them, as well as a bed; and their situation was rendered as painful as possible. She asked me how an English widow fared?

I told her, "An English lady enjoyed all the luxury of her husband's house during his life; but, on his death, she was turned out of the family mansion, to make room for the heir, and pensioned off; whilst the old horse was allowed the run of the park, and permitted to finish his days amidst the pastures he loved in his prime." The Hindoo widow, however young, must not marry again.

The fate of women and of melons is alike. "Whether the melon falls on the knife or the knife on the melon, the melon is the sufferer ."

We spoke of the severity of the laws of England with respect to married women, how completely by law they are the slaves of their husbands, and how little hope there is of redress.

You might as well "Twist a rope of sand ," or "Beg a husband of a widow ," as urge the men to emancipate the white slaves of England.

"Who made the laws?" said her Highness. I looked at her with surprise, knowing she could not be ignorant on the subject. "The men," said I; "why did the Mahārāj ask the question?" "I doubted it," said the Bā'ī, with an arch smile, "since they only allow themselves one wife."

"England is so small," I replied, "in comparison with your