The Cape Quarterly Review (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ...conversation by a reply. Then we asked how many children she had. "Two" answered the husband, "and four girls." Poor girls they are thrown into the bargain as it were, and one never dreams of ranking them with the precious sons of the house. Not children: only girls: and the man is not reckoned happv who has his quiver full of them. It has even been said that Mahomet denies to women the possession of souls, but this vulgar error is completely negatived by the Koran (Chap. IV.): "Whoso doeth evil shall be rewarded for it, and shall not find any patron or helper besides God; but whoso doeth good works, whether he be male or female, and is a true believer, they shall be admitted into Paradise and shall not in the least ber unjustly dealt with." No, it is net here that the canker worm lies, but rather, I am inclined to think, in another part of the same chapter, which says--"Take in marriage of such other women as please you, two, three, or four." Mahomet granted to woman a soul but sent polygamy to destroys it. When will the Light of the Gentiles lighten the whole earth and show these unhappy women that they are unhappy? Now, alas they do not know it; havine-never seen the day they are content to dwell in the night. The Sheyk of Ghizeh was not by any means the only gentleman in the neighbourhood on our visiting list. One morning soon after our arrival, a tall swarthy villager called upon me, and, introducing himself as " Mustapha," presented me with two scarabei, a piece of fresh butter and a pair of pigeons. In return for this gift all he would accept from me was the promise of a visit the same afternoon. This I readily granted him, and found myself at the humble dwelling shortly before sunset, having met Mustap...