The sun., 1894-11-18
BERBER MARRIAGE Markets.
The Brides Are Painted surprisirGIy sna
Laden with borrowed Ftnery.

The Brides Are Painted surprisiSsiy sna
Laden with Borrowed Finery.
Among the Kabyle clans in northern Africa
women are looked upon as chattels to be sold
like other possessions, and they are accordingly
disposed Of to the person who makes the highest
offer TO the father or other male guardian. Many
OF the Berber tribes of Morocco, Algiers, and
Tunis hold yearly marriage markets, to which
all the young marrlageable girls and widows
from the neighborng villages arc brought The
markets are attended not only by young men
and old on the lookout for wife. but also by q
curious crowd anxious to see what lots are for
sale and what prices they fetch The girls,
when on view. are allowed to have a voice in
the selection of their husbands. and may decline
any proposal.
They are arranged In rows right across the
market place; decked in the most telling Berber
costumes; painted. powdered, and patched in
tho highest style of Kabye art; loaded down
with rings and bangles, brooches. chains, and
coins enough to stock a jewellers shop. The
jewels arc rarely the girls property, but are
borrowed for the occasion from friends and
ncighbors, as every village takes pride in it's
girls and wishes them TO sell well. The young
women are all seated on small squares Of carpet
spread upon the ground. Each has an elderly
wonan beside her. and in 'front.' she has,
as if for SALE small roll of stuff
woven by her own hands Tho faces
Of the glrls are uncovered. for Berber wo-
men do not wear the face-concealing hafk
of the Arabs. but 1t is impossible to tell whether
they are pretty or not, for their faces and fore
heads are so painted and even tattooed that the
natural features cannot be made out Hero is n
description of girl of sixteen: Yellow bars are
painted across her face and patch Of gold foil
Is stuck on her right cheek; her forehead is tat
toned with n blue circle and her lips and gums
"A pa " rpIOpnpI. arranged
row pais, from the end OF each Of which dan
gle ribbon and coin. She wears long
sleeved. rcd-silk garment, falling from her
shoulders half way down her legs, and red
silk scarf worn like plaid across the left shoul.
brooch. The legs from the knee down are bare
but the feet are enclosed in little yellow slippcrs
wt R%SH R%Se SsSeS anke, Sn
double row OF bangles with bells at
,ashe On her he head i 5bhTrysi@GG cap
to which tiny coins are fixed. hanging over the
forehead down to the eyebrows. To a pair Of
inches in diameter, from which dangle little
bells. A heavy necklace Is round her neck. and
brooch. S T Round each arm Winds broad band OF
gold. and below 1t seven bangles. to W hich bells
are fastened. Another girl may nay have her whole
and moons In silver, foil pasted all over. it.
Another has blue circles tattooed all over her
cheeks. The widows wear a white cloth fas-
tened to the top of the head and secured by a
brooch at the waist.
Ihe man VINO Wishes 10 purchase steps UP 10
the woman of his choice and asks the price OF
the woven stuff before her. II he pleases her
she names very low figure: then loud, shrill.
and prolonged )h-Wi-lUi-U-u uttered by the
old woman at her side. announces that n bar
gain has been made, and the crowd shouts its
approval. II she dues not care for the man she
names an absurtily high price: then he walks
or TO inspect the next lot. The girls are per-
fectly sclf-possessed The young men are
good deal more nervous, and look as sheepsh as
u European might in their place. They are
dressed in their best. in long, red burnous
with high straw hats surmounted by
cabbage shaped plnmes. One will spend
an hour. and sometimes two or three walking
about the girl lie wants, before he dares to ask
the price of the woven roll. The girls watch tho
men out OF the corners OF their eyes, apparently
unconcerncd, chatting and laughing Mt them.
When the suitor presents himself they eye him
boldly from head to foot as they would a horse,
and il he suits he gets q prompt answer. some.
times the old woman will encourage bashful
youth with wink or a nod. The old men set to
work in Il businesslke manner, and walk down
the line making their proposal to one after an
other till they find some one who will accept
their offer.