The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-09-26
A MURDEROUS RACE.
Ths roiaA.esa wAs MAds way
With thG Marquis % AoeeA

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'tosy, Yet 1Asy Ale 0oAa -
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The Touarges inhabit the whole Of the
central Sahara south Of the Chat noun
tains. According to the testimony o4
explorers, they ere the most waziike
tribe In an Africa, and aze feared alike
by their kindred Hamites, by the Arabs
and by the nesroeA
The Touaregs constitute not merely
q tribe, but . great nation, divided into
two sections, each with . sultan and
subordinate chiefs. It II impossible 70
form any estfmAte Of their numbers.
They are white:Akinned race, and are
believed to have descended from .
branch Of the Hametic family. Their
language IL mixture Of dialects spoken
by inhabitante Of Tell and Of the Mbyan
desert, and il characterized by . certain
harshness, which has led Europeans to
call It the ''German of the plains" The
Touaregs' principal occupation Il rob
berry. Fidelity aud hospitality are dis-
tinguishing characteristicso Of these peo-
pie, and those who have been committed
to them for protection are generally de-
Tended to the death. This makes It all
the more remarkable that they should
have turned traitor to De Mores. The
physical appea1sace Of the Toua1egs 10
most remarkable. They are tan men,
but generally slender and nimble. Their
arms are unusually long. and their faces
present . most ferocious appearance.
greatly enhanced by self-inhicted scars
Of fantastic design On both cheeks and
forehead. The custom Il also peculiar
and distinctive, differing entirely from
the dress worn by Arabs. It somewhat
and consists OF wide pentaloons, falling
few inches below the knee, and num-
ber of loose blouses with wide sleeves.
These are made of cotton cloth, called
sole, which u brought from the Soudan,
and II generally Of different shades Of
blue, sometimes striped. Whether in
town or tent, It Is the custom of the
Touaregs to wear at least two Of these
garments, the outezmost of which Is
ornamented with rich embroidery in
gold, forming irregular desiens, and
particularly heavy on the LETT breast
and right shoMderblade.
The Touareg womAA fs most charm
ing person. She Is usually q fair q IN
American, and is said to be pretty,
coquettish and saucy. Blue eyes are
said to predominate among them, al
though blonde hair il q rarity. TheEug-
lish traveller, Andury. saw many blse
eyes among the females, but no blonde
heads. The females dress very simply,
their costume eonsisting Of chemise,
q short skir Ny blonse-like waist.
with no sleaS. The Taist il quite fire.
quently richly. embCoddered. but oply
tho wives and daughters Of chieftAins
are allowed to decorats their slkirt or
wear slippers. Stockings are unknown
to these females. The female Touaregs
are very proud Of ornaments, and wear
anklets, bracelets, ETC., OF painted wood,
II they. cannot Afford the precious
metals, and around their necks are hung
talismans and ornaments of various
kinds. They go unveiled and seem per
fectly at liberty. for the Todareg il not
consumed with that conjugal jealousy
which marks the Mussnlman Of tho
east. No man il allowed TO have mere
than one wife, save the chieftain or
sultan. A. ohieftain may have three,
but NO limit II placed on the size of the
sultan:s harem. The women are usu-
ally sfender in build, and. unlike other
oriental women, retain their beauty
well on into their declining years.
The Touaregs alone of al the tribes
Of, Africa have an Indigenous alphabet,
and most Of them can read end write
their own characters, not on paper or
parchment, but On the dark rocks in
which their country abounds. They are
one point Ahead Of both Moors ana
Arabs in civilization in that spoons are
in general use among them. They are
made of wood, and are very neat. Their
is . kind Of oligarchy. 1he
sultans ct Tfmbuctoo and Agadis exer-
else . general sway over their respective
people. but the most power IL vested in
the subordinate chiefs .-Philadelphi
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