Evening star., 1901-03-02
WHITE MEN OF ALGERIA.
Something About the Manners and
Customs of tin Berbers.

FROM tne iFonuon Express.
The Berbers of Algeria are a people OF
whom there is much good to be said.
Whether in the olive-clad mountains of
Kabylia or the terraced valleys Of their
Aurasian Businesses. they are white men
and in general act like white men.
Very little is known about them in this
country, but Mr.. Anthony Wilkin has
ritten so fascinatngly about them in his
admirable book Among the Berbers of
Algeria that there is no excuse for us
to remain longer in ignorance concerning
this interesting race of men.
Among them the virtues of honesty, hos
pitality and good nature are conspicuous;
and it is something of a misfortune to re-
fleet that Mahomedanism and the fact that
they no longer dwell in the lowlands pre-
vent them entering, as they would other
wise have entered, the path of peace
and progress.
Descendants of mighty race, whose cul-
ture once spread from the Atlantic to the
Red sea and the Hauran. from Crete to
Timbuctoo and the Soudan, there are still
to be found among them the vestiges Of tho
arts and sciences, of the spirit of conquest,
and the capacity for self-government
which, If developed, would again make
them a great nation.
The Berber women of the Aures wash
their garments on the rocks, soaking them,
treading upon them, and spreading and
ITdfnDllnS edcn piece until IL is Qulle CIedH
They have blue eyes and fair skins, and,
unlike the true daughters of the prophet,
gaze unveiled upon the casual unbeliever
Throughout the Aures district the houses
are built on the same plan. When cliff
can be found to form the back wall it is
used as such, Mr. Wilkin informs us. If
the cliff contains hole or hollow, so much
the better.
The walls are made of blocks of
stone set in mud instead of mortar, the
larger crevices being filled with splinters
and the smaller with fragments; while in
the better houses the square faces Of the
stones are set outwardS in such way as
to give a very regular appearance.
Inside these houses are generally stone
benches which have been carved from the
rocks or are built of odd stones and plas-
tered fiat with mud The floors also are OK
rock leveled with mud.
The animals are sometimes stabbed In the
family room, but as often In a separate
STALL either under or close to the main
building. The women regul; ly sweep tho
roofs every morning; nor are the villagers
so dirty as might be supposed
At sunset the women come up from the
| streams bearing water in goat-skins, or
| faggots or forage, all piled upon their
| backs. For the most part they are dressed
| in black or dark blue gowns, gathered in
| at the waists with brightly-colored woolen
! girdles.
Some wear sandals of grass neatly plait-
| ed and these are commonly worn by tho
men as well. Many women go barefoot
| however, like the children.
| The wives of rich and indulgent husbanus
| are often loaded with coarse silver orha-
] ments, including a gigantic pair of ankiets
| that weigh nearly a pound, and clank IKE
| chains on the legs of the proverbidSl ghost.
| Their headdresses vary greatly IN the
| matter of color, but are all more or less
| based on a squarish turban, over when
| gaudy handkerchiefs are arranged Win
| scrupulous care and an excellent eye lof
effect.
The servants wear practically the same
garments as their masters, and are treated
| so nicely by them that it is difficult for
stranger to distinguish them at once. 10
! notice a servant, however, in the presence
| of a kaid would be a grave breach OF eu-
quette. ,., 80,
| often your host will insist on waiting on
| Won himself and on these occasions ne VIII
| not touch a mouthful himself until he sees
| that his guests are satshed. III,
! The Berber is a born trader, VINO VIII
! think nothing Of tramping for miles TO gam
| few pence. s,.,s,
! Though tattooing is expressly forpldden
| hv the Koran, the practice prevails among
| all the Berbers of Algeria. The girls ollei
| have a blue cross on the forehead between
| the eyes. ,, ..o,, ,,
| Whatever the women think, they IN
| stantlv act-elope with some young spark
| take TO the mountains, die prematurely'
| leaving a sorrowful husband with an all
| too-numerous family. They are creatures
| of impulse.