WOMEN UNDER POLYGAMY
the anderuns; and on one occasion she was introduced to the sixteen wives of an eminent khan.
The chieftain's brides said that there was much quarrelling and jealousy in the harems. The khan sat by the side of the reigning favourite, and almost disregarded his other wives. Some of the women visited by Miss Bird had stars painted on the backs of the hands, on the forehead and the chin. A few were beautiful, but others were ungainly in form. This writer says that at twenty the women look past forty. Many have fine eyes and shining black hair. The women of the wilder districts are healthy in appearance. Their hands are stained with henna, and they wear amulets. According to Miss Bird, Persian peasants keep as many women as they can afford, and even poor men own more than one wife. Polygyny is said to be common in the rural districts. The average family is large, and there is little infant mortality. In this matter Persia appears to contrast with India, where the infant death-rate is very high.
The women eagerly questioned their English visitor concerning the position of their sex in her own country. They often asked her if she could recommend them effective philtres for securing or retaining the affection of their husbands.
Miss Bird visited the Amir in Isfahan. He talked intelligently on his country, and was very interested in the replies to his questions about the women of Eng-
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