pain, which not a few describe as resembling the tearing out of a back-tooth, and yet he insists upon repeating the operation, never supposing in his stupidity, that time must pass before the patient can have any sensation of pleasure and before the glories and delights of the sensual orgasm bathe her soul in bliss.  Hence complaints, dissatisfaction, disgust, mainly caused by the man’s fault, and hence not unfrequently a permanent distaste for the act of carnal congress.  All women are by no means equally capable of such enjoyment, and not a few have become mothers of many children without ever being or becoming thoroughly reconciled to it.  Especially in the case of highly nervous temperaments—­and these seem to be increasing in the United States and notably in New England—­the fear of nine months’ pains and penalties makes the sex averse to the “deed of kind.”  The first child is perhaps welcomed, the second is an unpleasant prospect and there is a firm resolve not to conceive a third.  But such conjugal chastity is incompatible, except in the case of “married saints,” with a bon m‚nage.  The husband, scandalised and offended by the rejection and refusal of the wife, will seek a substitute more complaisant; and the spouse also may “by the decree of Destiny” happen to meet the right man, the man for whom and for whom only every woman will sweep the floor.  And then adieu to prudence and virtue, honour and fair fame.  For, I repeat, it is the universal custom of civilised and Christian Europeans to plant their womankind upon a pedestal exposed as butts to every possible temptation:  and, if they fall, as must often be expected, to assail them with obloquy and contempt for succumbing to trials imposed upon them by the stronger and less sensitive sex.  Far more sensible and practical, by the side of these high idealists, shows the Moslem who guards his jewel with jealous care and who, if his “honour,” despite every precaution, insist upon disgracing him, draws the sabre and cuts her down with the general approbation and applause of society.

[FN#321] [Arab. “’Al… ghayri tar¡k,” which I would translate “out of the way,” like the Persian “b¡-R h.”—­St.]

[FN#322] In text “Kababj¡” (for Kababji) seller of Kab bs, mutton or kid grilled in small squares and skewered:  see vol. vi. 225.

[FN#323] In text “Sujj dah;” vol. vi. 193.

[FN#324] In text “Faddah” all through.

[FN#325] In text “Kirsh” (==piastre) a word before explained.  See Lane (M.E.) Appendix B.

[FN#326] In Arab.  “Sam r;” from the Pers.  “Sumar"==a reed, a rush.

[FN#327] In Arab.  “D¡w n:”  vols. vii. 340; ix. 108.

[FN#328] Scott has (vol. vi. 373), “The desired articles were furnished, and the Sultan setting to work, in a few days finished a mat, in which he ingeniously contrived to plait in flowery characters, known only to himself and his vizier, the account of his situation.”

[FN#329] In Arab.  “Ghir rah” (plur.  “Ghar ¡r")==a sack.  In Ibn Khall. (iv. pp. 90, 104) it is a large sack for grain and the especial name of a tax on corn.