The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-09
MARRIAGE MARKETS.
A Queer Institution Of the Berber
Tribes Of Morocco.
Baxars Where tho Feminine Merchant
Sells Herself with the Purchase of "a
Masculine Customer Who Is
to Her Liking.

Among the Knbyle clans in northern
Africa women are looked upon as chat
tells 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 Berbcr tribes of Morocco.
Algiers and Tunis hold yearly marriage
markets, to which all the young mar
riageable girls and widows from the
neighboring villages are brought. The
markets are attended not only by young
men and old on the lookout for a wife.
but also by Il 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
decline any proposal.
They are arranged in rows right
across the market place, dccked in the
most telling Berbcr costumes; painted,
powdered and patched in the highest
style of kabylc art; loaded down with
rings and bangles, brooches, chains and
COINS enough to stock n jewelers. shop.
The Jcwelsare rarely the girls property,
but are borrowed for the occasion from
friends and neighbors, as every village
takes pride in its girls and wishes them
to serve we'll The young women are
all seated on small squares of carpet
spread upon the ground. Each has an
elderly woman beside her, and in front
she has, us if for sale, Il small roll of
stuff woven by her own hands The
faces of the girls are uncovered, for
Bcrbcr women do not wear the face
conccaling haik of the Arabs, but it is
impossible to tell whether they are
pretty or not, for their faces and fore
heads are so painted and even tattoocd
that the natural features cannot be
made out.
Here is description of girl of six
teen; Yellow bars are painted across
her face and n patch of gold foil is
stuck on her right cheek; her forehead
is tattoocd with blue circle and her
lips and gums are we'll Redeemed Her
hair is arranged In narrow plaits, from
the end of each of which dangle q rib
bon and a coin. She wears q lonp-
sleeved, red silk garment, falling from
her shoulders halfway down her legs,
and red silk scarf, worn like plaid
across the left shoulder, where it is
fastened by jewelcd gold brooch.
The legs from the knees down are bare,
but the feet are inclosed in little vel
low slippers, with gold-embroidercd
edges and jcwelcd tops, while round
the ankles is a double row of bangles
with bells attached. On her head is n
Phrygian cap with a thick corded silk
border and fringcd ends, to which tinv
coins are fixed, hanging over the fore
head down to the eyebrows. To pnir
of small earrings are attached two
larger rings, six inches in diameter.
from which dangle little bells. A heavy
necklace is round her neck and below
that massive chain with u central
brooch. Round each arm winds a broad
band of gold and below it seven ban
giles, to which bells arc fastened. An
other girl may have her whole face
painted yellow, with little stars and
suns and moons in silvcrfoil pasted
over it. Another has blue circles tat
tooed all over her checks. The widows
wear white cloth fastened to the top
of the head and secured by brooch at
thc waist
The man who wishes to purchase
steps up to the woman of his choice
and asks the price of the woven stuff
before her. If he pleascs her She
names a very low figure, then a loud,
shrill and prolonged ''Yu-yu-yu-u-ur
uttered by the old woman at her side
announces that n bargain has been
made and the crowd shouts it's APPROX
al. If she does not care for the man
She names an absurdly high price
then he walks OFF TO inspect the next lot.
The girls are perfectly sclf-possessed.
The young men are a good deal more
nervous, and look as shcepish as a Eu-
ropean might in their place. They are
dressed in their best, in long red
burnous. with high straw hats sur
mounted by cabbagc-shaped plumes.
One will spend an hour, and sometimes
two or three. walking about the girl
he wants before he dares to ask the
price of the woven roll The girls
watch the men out of the corners of
their eyes apparently unconcerncd.
chatting and laughing at them When
the suitor presents himself they eve
him boldly from head to foot as they
would horse, and if he suits he gets n
prompt answer. Sometimes the old
woman will encourage bashful youth
with wink OF Il nod The old men
set to work in business-like manner
and walk down the line making their
proposal to one after another until
they find some one who will accent
their offer.