over domestic enjoyments, which, in countries when the influence of the sex is felt, is scorned and unknown. In the East the polish of social manners is changed for something more masculine and austere in appearance; but in fact their lives are more effeminate, puerile, and insipid, than cultivated minds can conceive. In Egypt, Syria, Arabia, and Persia, lounging in coffee-houses, listening to wretched musicians and tale-tellers, and smoking, are the favorite pastimes. To be a proficient in music would degrade a man of rank, and dancing would entail on him indelible disgrace; but the women dance, and voluptuous dancing girls are to be found in most places, though they hold the promiscuous dances of Europeans to be shocking and debasing. The restrictions upon the sex in Asia might induce a belief they partook more of original sin than the ladies of Europe, but the purity and excellence of the latter are derived from the custom of the country, founded on enlightened christian principles.

AFRICA.

ABYSSYNIA.

MUTUAL Consent is the only form of marriage among the Abyssinians, which is dissoluble at pleasure. They cohabit together when they please, and annul or renew the contract in the same manner. Thus a woman or man of the first quality may be in company with a dozen who have been their bridegroom or bride, though perhaps none of of them may be so at present. Upon separation they divide the children. The eldest son falls to the mother's first choice, and the eldest daughter to the father; if there is but one daughter, and all the rest sons, she is assigned to the father; if but one son, and all the rest are daughters, he is assigned to the mother: should the numbers be unequal after the 'first election, the rest are divided by lot. There is no distinction from the prince to the beggar, of illegitimate or legitimate children.

The king in his marriage uses no other ceremony than this. He send an Azage to the house where the lady resides; the officer announces to her it is the king's pleasure she should remove immediately to the palace. She then dresses herself in the best

manner, and without any reluctance obeys. An apartment is assigned her in the palace, and a house given her where she chooses. When the king makes her what they call Tteghe, it has some faint resemblance of marriage; for, whether he be in the court or camp, he orders one of his officers to pronounce in his presence that be, the king, has chosen his handmaid, naming her, for his queen. A crown is then put upon her head, but she is not anointed.

The Jesuit Alvarez, who was present at a ceremony where the patriarch officiated, says, the bride and bridegroom were waiting at the church door, where a couch was prepared for them, and on which the patriarch ordered them to sit; he then, with a cross in one hand and a censor in the other, made a kind of procession round them; then, laying his hands on their heads, told them, as they had become one flesh, so they ought to have but one heart and mind. He then went into the church and performed divine service, when, giving them his blessing, the ceremony was ended. ceive the holy communion. After consummation, the husband and wife keep separate tables; or, if they agree to eat together, bring their victuals ready dressed, or send it in by their slaves or attendants,

The more religious re

In the more civilized parts of Abyssinia all their marriages must be confirmed before a priest, They are given to polygamy, though the laws of their church forbid it. The previous ceremonies only

consist in each agreeing to live together as long as they like each other; they then proceed to the door of the church, where the priest performs the ceremony, and gives them his blessing. Divorces are very easily obtained; they then petition the priest for a permission to marry again, which is as easily granted; though, in either case, the party may be excluded the communion for a time at the discre

tion of the priest. In cases of infidelity, they compensate the injured party by presents; but, in case they cannot agree as to the compensation, the man is sentenced to pay a fine, which is appropriated to the use of the injured wife.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.-There is a close affinity between many of the customs of the Hottentots, the Caffres, and the Jews. They eat no swine's flesh, and use circumcision. The men never eat with the women for several reasons, and the latter must not taste any thing that has blood in it.

HOTTENTOT marriages are made by the parents or nearest relations; and if the female disapprove of the match, she is nevertheless compelled to pass the night with the man whom her friends have chosen. If he force her to consummation, and vanquish all his rivals, she is constrained to become his wife; but, on the contrary, if she preserve herself uncontaminated, she is ever after free from him. Should the nuptials take place, the day after an ox is killed to feast the company, who not only eat the flesh,

but also besmear themselves with the blood and fat, powder themselves with a stuff they call bucku, - and paint their cheeks with red chalk. The marriage ceremony is thus performed: the men squat in a circle, as, indeed, they do upon most occasions, and the bridegroom is placed in the centre; the women also, in the same manner, form another circle to surround the bride. The priest then goes from one circle to the other, and alternately urines on the bride and bridegroom, who make furrows with their nails in the grease with which they are. plastered, in order to rub in the precious libation; he then pronounces the nuptial benediction in the following words: "May you live happily together! may you have a son before a year is expired! may be be a good huntsman and a great warrior!" When. they have dined, a pipe is filled with tobacco, which each successively smokes from, taking two or three whiffs, when they hand it to their neighbour. It is singular, that, though the Hottentots are immoderately found of spirituous liquors, music, and dancing, yet they use neither at their weddings. Polygamy is permitted, but the richest seldom have more than three wives. Marriage between first and second cousins is prohibited upon pain of death.

The portion they give a son on his marriage is usually two cows and two sheep; to a daughter, one of each, which are to be returned to the father if the bride die without having any children; but,