The master pays to the
government the tax called Miri, and the labourer pays ten piastres
annually. The rest of the agricultural population of the Haouran
consists of those who subsist by daily labour. They in general earn
their living very hardly. I once met with a young man who had served
eight years for his food only at the expiration of that period he
obtained in marriage the daughter of his master, for whom he would,
otherwise, have had to pay seven or eight hundred piastres. When I saw
him he had been married three years;
[p.298]but he complained bitterly of his father-in-law, who continued to
require of him the performance of the most servile offices, without
paying him any thing; and thus prevented him from setting up for himself
and family.
Daughters are paid for according to the respectability of their father,
sometimes as high as fifteen hundred piastres, and this custom prevails
amongst Druses, Turks, and Christians. If her family is rich the girl is
fitted out with clothes, and a string of zequins or of silver coin, to
tie round her head; after which she is delivered to her husband. I had
an opportunity of witnessing an espousal of two Christians at Aaere, in
the house of a Christian:
