Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-02-14

woman on looking over the inquiring
tribesman is satisfied with him, she
names a very low figure, the small sum
of ten pieces, which is agreed upon
among the several clans as the equiv
alent Of acceptance.
If, not, she merely quotes a high
price, something up in the hundreds,
and it Is then understood that the offer
l. respectfully declined and deal Is
not likely to be effected. The actual
money price to be paid for girl de-
pends upon the standing of her fam
lily and the kebal to which they belong.
1t Is fixed, moreover, by immemorial
usage, so that every young man knows
pretty we'll what he will have to pay
for wife. Hence only those who have
the requisite means can venture to
make an offer forsany lot on view.
It should not, however, be supposed
that these young Berber beauties are
by any means prepared to yield them
selves to the first conner who can afford
to pay the recognized equivalent to the
parents. Kabyle women are anything
but the docile and obedient, drudges
many western readers imagine. They
enjoy a good deal more freedom, IN
many respects, than a European wife
in a rank Of life. They unquestiona-
bly, rule the domestic roost and know
how to use their wooden clogs, the
kabkab, with convincing effect upon
the bare pates Of their spouses.
The satisfactory results Of such home
discipline is apparent in the deport-
ment of the young girls on view In the
market. They watch the tribesmen,
young and middle-aged, who make In
spection Of them, out Of the corners of
their eyes, while they chatter away
nonchalantly with their negafas. They
throw amused glances at the more
bashful Of the young visitors, who can
not summon up courage enough to ap-
proach and put the momentous ques-
tions as to the price Of the roll Of stuff.
When one Of them does, at length,
come near to try his luck, it is delight
full to see how the girl raises her eyes,
looks the young fellow deliberately over
from top to toe, and, If he does not
strike her fancy, dismisses him with
an offhand answer and toss Of the
head. The Kabyle bellies have. or seem
to have, an instructive perception when
really promising candidate for their
possession makes his appearance. Then
indeed, their answer Is as prompt as 1t
is decided. The negafas, too, know
their business. They see, in an instant,
how matters are going. When PROM
ising young clansman Is either too
bashful to step forward or is likely to
pass on without an inquiry, the 'wrink-
led old dame, who looks 80 quiet and
sleepy under her ample white wimple,
sends him a glance with the tail of her
eye that brings him up to the roll In
an instant, and generally results in a
sale.
Business goes on briskly while I am
looking around and taking stock Of the
lots on show. I note half dozen deals
concluded in less than half an hour.
In the case of one little Kabyle damsel
I watch the negotiations from begin
ming to conclusion She is quiet, a
beauty, her face nicely painted a pale
lemon yellow, with little suns, moons
and stars cut out of silver foil stuck
all over it. II. she has one OF these
she has twenty on cheeks and on fore
head. She wears a pancake-shape silk
hat on her head, we'll stiffened out, and
fastened under the chin by ribbon,
covered with small coins. A smart
looking young tradesman Of the Benz
Yussef comes striding along in his
four-yard-long train and straw hat big
enough to stow the girl in. He stops
and looks at the girl. Comes nearer,
evidently attracted, looks again, then
turns irresolutely on his heels. The
astute negafa comes to his assistance
at once; she sees a likely customer.
Happy" cries the old lady diplomati-
cally, "the parents Of such son." The
Young fellow looks at her, but remains
still. "And Is the damsel not worth
looking at?" she goes on. "Is she not
the pearl Of the village? See, her face
is golden as Is the face Of the moon.
Blessed will be her husband. Come,
then" The clansman cannot resist.
He smirks, steps forward, takes off his
big straw hat, and, holding it in one
hand, so that the feather tuft hangs
downward, gingerly touches the roll Of
stuff with the other, and asks the price.
The girl flashes up at him a single
glance, casts down her eyes as quiet
ly, and in a quiet tone gives the sat-
isfactory response, "Ten pieces" The
negafa holds out her right hand, the
young tribesman holds out his, so that
the thumbs touch. Then, from the
mouth Of the old duenna comes the
most blood-curling cry that I have ever
heard emanate from the human throat.
1t is worse than the "Fa' 'aritt" Of the
Moroccan Jewesses, which is as ear
splitting a performance as any one
could desire. The shrek Of the negafa
I can only describe as resembling the
sound of the syllables "Yu-yu-yu-u-u-