Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-11
40 MeD14A/
BUYING A WIFE.
An EnsIishman's Observations at
Marriage Fair in Tunis.

[London Chronicle.l
A famous marriage fair. or mart, is
held yearly at the village of Menguelet,
in the well-known oasis on the Wady
jena a, 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 as money is reckon
ed ithereabouts think of adding a 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 show was organized
and managed. In the open space the
Gamsels were ranged ready for inspec-
ton in the marriage market. There
they face the visitor, separated from
the noisy part of the fair, ranged in
four separate rows and numbering. l
should say, between 600 and TOO Eacn
damsel is seated on a small. bright
colored carpet spread upon the ground,
and each has negafa--a sort OF nurse,
attendant and duenna combined-seat-
ed beside her. Conspicuously displayed
in front of each, moreover, is big roll
of woven stuff. This roll Of material
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 ana
richest garments the parents and rela-
tives can secure.
They are painted, patched and pow
dered as is the invariable custom or
Kabyle bellies and wear sufficient rings
bangles, bracelets, chains and brooches
to stock a small-sized jewellers shop.
These Jewels are not by any means all
ways the property Of the girl or her
| friends. In fact, they are mostly Dor
rowed or hired for The occasion. AS
there Is good deal of rivalry between
tbe different deheras and kebails in re-
gard to the appearance of their damsels
in the marriage market, there is no diff
ticulty in getting on loan as much or
nament of the kind as the girl can
carry on her person. especially II she is
/ at all good looking. 1t is not easy for
stranger to decide upon the beauty of
a Berber maid for she tattoos the race
as we'll 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
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
| fribesman 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 equiva-
1lent of acceptance.
If not, she merely quotes high
price, something up in the hundreds,
and it is then understood that the offer
is respectfully declined and deal Is
not likely to be effected. The actual
money price to be paid for girl de-
uends upon the standing of her family
and the kebal to which they belong. 1t
4 is fixed, moreover by immemorial us
age SO that every young man knows
nretty we'll what he will have to pay for
/ a wife. Hence only those who have the
renuisite means can venture to make
an offer for any lot on view.
! n should not, however, be supposed
that these young Berber beauties are by
any means prepared to yield themselves
n the first conner who can afford tc
nav the recognized equivalent to the
PARENTS Kabyle women are anything
hut the docile and obedient drudges
MANY western readers imagine. They
eniov a good deal more freedom, In
4 MANY respects, than European wife
i In a like rank Of life. They unques'