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Auction of Ladies. .-An auction of un- married ladies takes place annually in

 Babylon. lnevery district they assemble, on certain day of every year, ali the virgins of marriageable age. The most

 beautiful are first put up, and the man

 who bids the largest sum Of money

 gains possession oEf her. TIle second in personal appearance follows. and the

 bidders gratify themselves with hand come wives according to the depth of their purses. But there are in Babylon ladies for which no money is offered. yet these also are disposed of, so prevalent are the Babylonians. When all the beautiful virgins are sold, the Crier or ders the most deformed to stand up, and after he has openly demanded who will marry her vi ith small sum, she is at iength adiudged to the man who is sat isfed with the least, and in this manner the money arising from the sale