Arrival at Koom--Mahomedan Ladies--Their Rights and Privileges after Marriage--Divorces--Story of Hajee Sâlah, the Cross-Grained.
We went from Cashan to Koom, a very ancient and once populous city, but the greater part of it is now in ruins. Several of the Seffavean monarchs, and many celebrated and pious persons are interred at this place; but notwithstanding the tombs of learned priests and great monarchs, with which it is honoured, its present fame and sanctity are chiefly derived from its containing the mortal remains of Fatima the Immaculate,[99] who was the sister of the Imâm Mehdee.
The city of Koom was given sometime ago by the king as an estate to his mother, a pious liberal old lady, who expended considerable sums in restoring it to prosperity. She bestowed especial care in ornamenting the shrine of the female saint, the dome of which being gilt has a splendid appearance. This is a sanctuary even for murderers.
Whatever ignorant Europeans may say of the exclusion of females from the Mahomedan Paradise, the ladies who profess that religion have the consolation to know, that not only in this instance, but that of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet, and in many others, they receive a homage which proves their title to the adoration of man, as saints in heaven, as well as angels upon earth.
I have had frequent discussions with my Persian friends upon the general condition of the female sex in this country; and cannot better illustrate the subject than by relating what passed on an occasion when I made a violent attack on their usages in this particular, and brought them into strong contrast with those of the civilized nations of Europe.
I began by stating, that, by making slaves of one half of the creation they made tyrants of the other. "I am only surprised," I said, "how your females can bear the subjection and confinement to which they are doomed. How our Christian ladies would scorn such restraints! Their minds are cultivated as carefully as those of their fathers, brothers, or husbands, who trust for their good conduct to their sense of virtue and religion, rather than to strong doors and high walls. We desire," I added, "that those who share our pleasures and our toils should be acquainted with the world in which they live, that we may possess not only an affectionate wife, but an intelligent friend.