12 illustration(s) from this book
Of the Civil Laws, the following notices will at present suffice.--A man
may have four wives at the same time, and, according to common opinion,
as many concubine slaves as he pleases.--He may divorce a wife twice,
and each time take her back again; but if he divorce her a third time,
or by a triple sentence, he cannot make her his wife again unless by her
own consent, and by a new contract, and after another man has
consummated a marriage with her, and divorced her.--The children by a
wife and those by a concubine slave inherit equally, if the latter be
acknowledged by the father. Sons inherit equally: so also do daughters;
but the share of a daughter is half that of a son. One-eighth is the
share of the wife or wives of the deceased if he have left issue, and
one-fourth if he have left no issue. A husband inherits one-fourth of
his wife's property if she have left issue, and one-half if she have
left no issue. The debts and legacies of the deceased must be first
paid. A man may leave one-third of his property in any way he
pleases.--When a concubine slave has borne a child to her master, she
becomes entitled to freedom on his death.--There are particular laws
relating to commerce. Usury and monopoly are especially condemned.