The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-23

| friends. In fact, they are mostly bor-
| roWed or hired for the occasion. AS
| there Is a good deal of rivalry between
| the different deheras and kebails in re-
| gard to the appearance of their dam
sells 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, especially if she is
at all good looking. 1t Is not easy for
| a stranger to decide upon the beauty
of Berber maid, for she tattoes the face
as well as paints 1t.
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 wish
es to own is seated, touch him 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 equival-
; ent of acceptance.
If not, she merely quotes high price.
up III LluilhLCuoB anu IL 49,
then understood that the offer is re-
spectfully 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 ke-
bal to which they belong. 1t is fixed,
moreover, by immemorial usage, so that
every young man knows pretty well
what he will have to pay for wife
Hence only those who have the re-
quisite 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 them
selves to the first conner who can afford
to pay the recognized equivalent to the
parents. Kabyle women are anything
but the dociIe and obedient drudges
many Western readers imagine. They
enjoy a good deal more freedom in
many respects, than a European wife
in like rank of life. They unques-
tionably rule the domestic roost and
know how to use their wooden clogs
the kabkab. with convincing effect upon
the barn pates Of their spouses.
IiE satisfactory ISSullS VI
discipline is apparent in the department
Of the young girls on view in the mark
ct. They watch the tribesmen, young
and niddle-aged. who make inspec-
ton of them, out of the corners of. their
eyes, while they chatter away noncha-
lantly with their negafas. They throw
amused glances at the more bashful of
the young visitorsh who cannot summon
up courage enough to approach and
put the momentous questions as to the
price of the roll of stuff. When one Of
them does, at length, come near to try
his luck it Is delightful to see how the
girl raises her eyes, looks the young
fellow deliberately over from the top to
toe, and IL he does not strike her fancy,
dismisses him with an off-hand answer
and a toss Of the head. The Kabyle
bellies have, or seem to have, an instinc-
tive PERCEPTION when a really promising
candidate for their possession makes
his appearance. Then, indeed their
answer is as prompt as 1t is decided
The pegafas, too know their business.
They see in an instant how matters
are going.
When a promising young clansman is
either too bashfuI to step forward or is
likely to pass on without an inquiry the
Wrinkled old dame, who looks so quiet
and sleepy under her ample white VIM
pie sends him a glance with the tail of
her eye that brings him up to the roll
in an instant, and generally results in
sale.
Business goes on briskly while | am
looking around and taking stock Of the
lots on show. I note half a dozen deals
concluded in less than half an hour. In
the case Of one little Kabyle damsel
watch the negotiations from beginning
to conclusion. She is quite a beauty, her
face nicely painted pale lemon yellow,
with little suns, moons and stars out of
silver foil stuck all over 1t. If she has
one of these, she has twenty on check
and on forehead. She wears pan
cakeshaped silk hat on her head, we'll
stiffened out. and fastened under the
chin by a ribbon covered with small
coins. a smart-looking young tribes
man of the Benz Yussef come striding
along in his four yardlong train and
straw hat big enough to stow the girl
in IIe 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 likely
customer. Happy" cries the old lady,
automatically, 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 clansmen cannot re-
sist. He smirks, steps forward, takes
off his big straw hat and. holding 1t 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