CHAP. VII.: Of an Equality of Treatment in Case of many Wives.

FROM the law which permitted a plurality of wives followed that of an equal behaviour to each. Mahomet, who allowed of four, would have every thing, as provisions, dress, and conjugal duty, equally divided between them. This law is also in force in the Maldivian isles See Pirard, c. 12. ^†576, where they are at liberty to marry three wives.

The law of Moses Exod. xxi. 10. 11. ^†577 even declares, that, if any one has married his son to a slave, and this son should afterwards espouse a free woman, her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. They might give more to the new wife, but the first was not to have less than she had before.