The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-29

An Englishman's Observations at
Marriage Fair in Tunfs.

London Chronicle.
A famous marriage fair, or mart. is held
yearly at the village of Menguelet, in the
well-known oasis OF the Wady Jema'a, in
the Kabyle district of TuEis. 1t takes
place at the end of the harvest season,
when the ingathering of the crops is fin
ished the produce disposed Of, and the
tribesmen of the country. flush with money
as money is reckoned thereabouts, think
of adding wife to the other purchases they
always make for the ensuing twelve
months.
Being within thirty miles of the Ait at
the time of the market, / rode over to see
how such a show was organized and man.
aged. In the open space the damsels were
ranged ready for inspection in the marriage
market. There they face the visitor. sep
arated from the noisy part of the fair,
ranged in four separate rows and num-
bering, 1 should say, between six hundred
and seven hundred. Each damsel is seat
ed on a small. bright-colored carpet spread
upon the ground, and each has negafa-
sort of nurse. attendant and duenna COM
bined-seated beside her. Conspicuousiy
displayed in front of each. moreover is
a big roll of woven stuff. This roll or ma
terial plays an important part In the mar
riage negotiations and Is always woven
by the girl herself. The young women are
attired in the most expensive and richest
garments the parents and relatives can Sc
cure.
They are painted. patched and powdered
as is the invariable custom of Kabyle bellies
and wear sufficient rings, bangles, brace
lets, chains and brooches to stock a small
sized jewelers. shop. These jewels are not
by any means always the property or the
girl or her friends In fact, they are mostly
borrowed or hired for the occasion As
there is good deal of rivalry between the
different deheras and kebails in regard to
the appearance of their damsels in the mar
riage market, there is no difficulty in get
ting on loan as much ornament or the
kind as the girl can carry on her per-
son, especially If she is at all good-looking
1t is not easy for stranger to decide upon
the beauty of Berber maid, for she tattoos
the face we'll as paints 1t.
How is sale and purchase effected? In
the simplest way maginable. The would-be
buyer has only TO walk up to the carpet
upon which the girl he wishes to own is
seated, touch with his finger the roll of
woven stuff in front of her and ask the
price. If the young woman on looking over
the inquiring tribesman is satisfied with
him she names very low figure. the small
sum of ten pieces, which is agreed upon
among the several clans as the equivalent
of acceptance.
If not she merely quotes high price.
something up in the hundreds, and 1t is
then understood that the offer Is respect
fully declined and deal is not likely TO be
effected. The actual money price TO be paid
for girl depends upon the standing OF her
family and the kebal to which they belong.
I u,
so that every young man knows pretty well
what he will have TO pay for wife Hence
only those who have the requisite means
can venture to make an offer for any lot on
view.
IT should not however be supposed that
these Young Berber beauties are by any
means prepared to yield themselves to the
first conner who can afford TO pay the recog-
nized equivalent to the parents. kabyle
women are anything but the docile and obe-
dent drudges many western readers I'M
agine They enjoy good deal more free-
dom in many respects, than European
wife i'm a like rank Of life. They unques-
| tionably rule the domestic roost ana know
how TO use their wooden clogs, the kaDkaD,
with convincing effect upon the pare pates
of their spouses. -.
The satisfactory results of such home dis
cipIine is apparent in the department or
the Young girls on view in the market.
They watch the tribesmen, young and mid
6le-aged. who make inspection or them.
ont of the corners Of their eyes. while
/ negafas They throw amused glances at
the more bashful of the young visitors,
who cannot summon up courage enough TO
approach and put the momentous questions
! as TO the price OF the roll OF stun. When
I one of them does at length come near
I enough to try his luck il is delightful to
see how the girl raises her eyes, looks the
/ Young fellow deliberately over from top
! TO toe, and. IL he does not strike her fancy.
/ dismisses him with an offhand answer and
/ a toss of the head The kabyle bellies
! ceprion when really promising candidate
| for their possession makes his appear
J ance. Then. indeed. their answer Is as