Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-17
BUYING A WIFE.
An Englishman's Observations at q
Marriage Fair in Tunis.
From the London Chronicle.

From the London Chronicle.
A famous marriage fair, or mart, is held
yearly at the village of Menguelet, In the
well-known oasis on the Wady Jemala, in
the Kabyle district of Tunis. 1t takes place
at the end of the harvest season, when the
ingathering OF the crops is finished, the
produce disposed of and the tribesmen OF
the country, flush with money, money is
reckoned whereabouts. think Of adding q
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, l rode over to see how
such a show was organized and managed.
In the open space the damsels were ranged
ready for inspection in the marriage mar
ket. There they face the visitor, separated
from the noisy part of the fair, ranged in
four separate rows and numbering. i should
say, between 600 and 700 Each damsel is
seated on a small, bright-colored carpet
spread upon the ground and each has a me-
gafa-a sort of nurse, attendant and duepna
Combined-seated beside her. Conspicuously
displayed in front Of each, moreover, is a
big roll of woven stuff. This roll of ma
terial plays an important part in the mar
rage negotiations. and is always woven by
The girl herself. The young women are at-
tired in the most expensive and richest
garments the parents and relatives can
secure.
They are painted, patched and powdered,
as is the invariable custom of Kabyle
bellies, and wear sufficient rings, bangles,
bracelets chains and brooches to stock a
small-sized jewelers. shop. These jewels
are not by any means always the property
Of the girl or her friends. In fact, they are
mostly borrowed or hired for the occasion.
AS there is a good deal of rivalry between
the different deheras and kebails in regard
to the appearance of their damsels in the
marriage market, there is no difficulty In
getting on loan as much ornament of the
kind as the girl can carry on her person.
ial oh &c oil evnn
is not easy for stranger to decide upon the
beauty of a Berber maid, for she tattoos
the face as we'll as paints It,
How Is sale and purchase effected? In the
simplest way imaginable. The would-be
buyer has only to walk up to the carpet
upon which the girl he wishes to own IL
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 a very low figure, the small
sum of ten pieces, which is agreed upon
among the several clans the equivalent
Of acceptance.
If not, she merely quotes a high PRICE
something up in the hundreds, and It 10
then understood that the offer is respect
fully declined and a deal is not likely to he
effected. The actual money price to be paid
for girl depends upon the standing of her
family. and the keb to which they belong.
1t is fixed, moreover. by immemoriaf
usage, so that every young man knows
pretty well what he will have to pay for q
wife. Hence only those who have the requi-
site means can venture to make an offer
for any lot on view.
1t 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 anything but the docile and ODE
dent drudges many western readers i'm
agine. They enjoy a good deal more free
dom, in many respects, than a European
wife in like rank Of life They unques-
tionably rule the domestic roost, and know
how to use the wooden clogs. the kabkab,
with convincing effect upon the bare pates
OF their spouses