dress herself in jewels and fine clothes, nor shall she see dancing, nor hear music, nor shall she sit in the window, nor shall she ride out, nor shall she behold anything choice or rare; but she shall fasten well the house door and remain private; and she shall not eat any dainty victual; she shall not blacken her eyes with eye-powder; she shall not view her face in a mirror; she shall never exercise herself in any agreeable employ ment, during the absence of her husband." (Apparently such faithful wives did exist — wives inconsolable for the absence of their lords, and who could not rest because of apprehension for their safety — for a name existed for them, Poorookhithnertika; few in number they must have been, else a shorter word would have been required.) Fortun ately the poor wife had not to wait the absentee's return for ever; if he had gone on a pilgrimage and was absent beyond the time agreed upon, she had to remain at his house for eight years; if he was traveling to acquire knowledge or fortune, six years she had to wait; if he had gone to marry another woman, then three years was the limit; after the prescribed period she might leave his home in pursuit of her business, without being liable to being put away by him when he did come back upon the scene. If, however, she was rash and left before the time was up, he had a right to divorce her. (Gentoo Laws, pp. 283—286 : Ayeen Akbery, vol. ii, pp. 482, 507.) The good wife in the eye of the law thus behaves (" the law is a bachelor," how ever, as Mr. Bumble says) : " A woman who is of a good disposition, and who puts on her jewels and clothes with decorum and is of good principles, whenever the husband is cheerful, she is cheerful, and if the husband is sorrowful, the wife also is sorrowful, and whenever the husband undertakes a journey, the wife puts on a careless dress and lays aside her jewels and other ornaments; she abuses no person and will not expend a single dam (a small coin, not an oath) with
out her husband's consent; she has a son; and takes care of the household goods; and at the times of worship performs her duty to the Deity in a proper manner; she goes not out of the house; is chaste; she makes no quarrels or disturbances, and has no greedy passions; she is always employed in some good work, and pays a proper respect to all persons." The man who finds this paragon must take care of her. The law saith, " A woman who always acts according to her husband's pleasure, and speaks no ill of any person, and who can do all such things as are proper for a woman to do; and who is of good principles; and has a son; and who rises from sleep before her husband; such a woman is found only by much and many religious works, and by a peculiarly happy destiny; such a woman if any man forsakes of his own accord, the magistrate shall inflict upon that man the punishment of a thief. (Gentoo Laws, pp. 285-286). How like in many points to King Lemuel's virtuous wife, whose price was above rubies. The law was equally positive as to what a woman should not do. " She shall never go out of the house without the consent of her husband, and 'shall always have some clothes upon her bosom, and at festivals shall put on her choicest dress and her jew els; and shall never hold intercourse with a strange man, although she may converse with a Siuesscc (a Brahmin on a pilgrimage), a hermit or an old man; she must always dress in clothes that reach from below the leg to above the wraist, and must not appear too too decollete; she shall not laugh without drawing her veil before her face; and shall act according to the orders of her husband; and shall pay proper respect to the Deity, to her husband, father, the spiritual guide, and the guests, and shall not eat until after she has served them with victuals (if it is physic, she may take it before they eat). A woman shall never go to a stranger's house, and shall not stand at the door; and must never look out of a window. Six
