276 MASHAD, THE HOLT CITY OF PERSIA
carried on, especially because of the never-ceasing influx of pilgrims to the town.^ One of the most remarkable features of Mashad life, a usage that has called forth comments on many- sides, is the established custom of providing temporary wives for the pilgrims during their sojourn in the city. A marriage bond, duly ratified and sealed by a priest, is entered into for a week, or a month, or as long as the visitor wishes to stay ; and, on his departure, the wife of this brief period, duly provided with a dowr}^ though it may be slight indeed, is freed from her marital obligations, and is at liberty, I believe, to enter later into another union if she finds it to her advantage. ^
There are, nevertheless, notable signs of progress at Mashad. The voice of the Nationalistic Movement has been heard here, as elsewhere, in clear and ringing tones ; and advanced leaders, clerics among them, are found ready to promote causes that tend towards the general uplift. Nor is Mashad backward in a desire to further military interests, for the commander of the forces of Khurasan, such as they are, has his headquarters in the city. The Kdr-guzdr^ or ' Minister of Official Business,' upon whom I called to inquire about some historic and antiquarian topics relating to Khurasan, proved to be no mere functionary, but an intelligent man, well informed, and ready to give from his store of wide knowledge ; he had, besides, a keen sense of humor, and his jovial conversation, good coffee, and tobacco served as an appropriate prelude to the formal visit to the Prince Governor, who had kindly
1 See Miss Sykes, Persia^ pp. 99- a stipulated time are common (see the 100 ; Curzon, Persia, 1. 166-167. literature cited by Barton, Sketch of
2 Dr. Gray calls my attention to the Semitic Origins, pp. 47-49, New York, fact that a like custom prevails at 1902). This type of marriage is found Mecca (cf. Snouck Hurgronje, Mekka, not only among the Semites, but also 2. 5, 109-112, The Hague, 1889), and among American Indians, Africans, the whole Muhammadan institution is Oceanians, Siamese, Japanese, and probably of primitive Arab origin (cf. even ancient Teutons (see the refer- Ammianus Marcellinus, Hist. 14. 4); ences given by Post, Grundriss der while in Sunau (in South Arabia) and ethnologischen Jurisprudenz, 1. 53-54, in Abyssinia temporary marriages for Oldenburg, 1894) .
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