to be separated, and to return to her parents, she must first pay the money which he may demand, and must also have his permission, although he himself may send her to her parents whenever he chooses, without assigning any reason.  He retains the children, and he may marry again.  The woman is generally expected to bring her husband a considerable sum in the way of dowry, but, on separation, she gets nothing back.  This was the Boab’s account, but I think he has overdone the harshness and injustice of the Mohammedan law of marriage in relating it to our tourists.  It may be observed that the strict law is rarely acted upon, and many respectable Moors have told me that they have but one wife, and find that quite enough.  It is true that many Moors, especially learned men, divorce their wives when they get old, feeling the women an embarrassment to them, and no wonder, when we consider these poor creatures have no education, and, in their old age, neither afford connubial pleasure nor society to their husbands.  With respect to divorce, a woman can demand by law and right to be separated from her husband, or divorced, whenever he ill-treats her, or estranges himself from her.  Eunuchs, who have the charge of the women, are allowed to marry, although they cannot have any family.  The chief eunuch of the Bardo has the most revolting countenance.

Our tourists brought home a variety of curious Jereed things:  small date-baskets full of dates, woollen articles, skins of all sorts, and a few live animals.  Sidi Mohammed also made them many handsome presents.  Some deer, Jereed goats, an ostrich, &c., were sent to Mr. R. after his return, and both Captain B. and Mr. R. have had every reason to be extremely gratified with the hospitality and kind attentions of the “Bey of the Camp.”

It is very difficult to ascertain the amount of tribute collected in the Jereed, some of which, however, was not got in, owing to various impediments.  Our tourists say generally:—­

Camel-loads. [40]
Money, dollars, and piastres, (chiefly I
imagine, the latter.) 23

Burnouses, blankets, and quilts, &c. 6

Dates (these were collected at Toser,
and brought from Nefta and the surrounding
districts) 500
——­
Total 529

It is impossible, with this statement
before us, to make out any exact
calculation of the amount of tribute. 
A cantar of dates varies from fifteen
to twenty-five shillings, say on an
average a pound sterling; this will
make the amount of the 500 camel-loads
at five cantars per load L2,500

Six camel-loads of woollen manufactures,
&c., at sixty pound per load, value 360
------
Total L2,860

The money, chiefly piastres, must be left to conjecture.  However, Mr. Levy, a large merchant at Tunis, thinks the amount might be from 150 to 200,000 piastres, or, taking the largest sum, L6,250 sterling: