It is generally observed, that women enter into matrimony with more
willingness, and less anxious care and solicitude, than men, for which
many reasons naturally suggest themselves to the intelligent reader. The
women of Greenland are however, in many cases, an exception to this
general rule. A Greenlander, having fixed his affection, acquaints his
parents with it; they acquaint the parents of the girl; upon which two
female negociators are sent to her, who, lest they should shock her
delicacy, do not enter directly on the subject of their embassy, but
launch out in praises of the lover they mean to recommend, of his house,
of his furniture, and whatever else belongs to him, but dwell most
particularly on his dexterity in catching seals. She, pretending to be
affronted, runs away, tearing the ringlets of her hair as she retires;
after which the two females, having obtained a tacit consent from her
parents, search for her, and on discovering her lurking place, drag her
by force to the house of her lover, and there leave her. For some days
she sits with dishevelled hair, silent and dejected, refusing every kind
of sustenance, and at last, if kind entreaties cannot prevail upon her,
is compelled by force, and even by blows, to complete the marriage with
her husband. It sometimes happens, that when the female match-makers
arrive to propose a lover to a Greenland young woman, she either faints,
or escapes to the uninhabited mountains, where she remains till she is
discovered and carried back by her relations, or is forced to return by
hunger and cold; in both which cases, she previously cuts off her hair;
a most infallible indication, that she is determined never to marry.

EDUCATION OF WOMEN IN ASIA AND AFRICA.

In several of the warmer regions of Asia and Africa, the little
education bestowed upon women, is entirely calculated to debauch their
minds and give additional charms to their persons. They are taught vocal
and instrumental music, which they accompany with dances, in which every
movement and every gesture is expressively indecent: but receive no
moral instruction; for it would teach them that they were doing wrong.
This, however, is not the practice in all parts of Asia and Africa: the
women of Hindostan are educated more decently; they are not allowed to
learn music or dancing; which are only reckoned accomplishments fit for
those of a lower order; they are notwithstanding, taught all the
personal graces; and pa