The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-03-05

Ndus III iHt tiSlTltl
of Tunis. 1t takes place at the end Of
the harvest season, when the ingaiher.
ing of the crops is finished. the product
disposed of, and the tribesmen of the
country, flush with money as money
Is reckoned thereabouts, think of add
always make for the ensuing twelve
months.
Being within thirty miles of the Ait
Mt the time of the market, 1 rode over
to see how such show was organized
and managed. In the open space the
damsels were ranged ready for inspec-
tion in the marriage market. There
they face the visitor. separated from
the noisy part of the fair. ranged in
four separate rows and numbering.
should say, between 600 and 700. Each
damsel Is seated OH n small bright
colored carpet spread upon the ground
and each has a negafa-a sort of nurse,
attendant and duenna combined-seat-
ad beside her. Conspicuously displayed
in front OF each. moreover. Is big
roll of woven stuff. This roll OF ma
tcrial plays an important part in the
marriage negotiations. and Is always
woven by the girl herself. The young
women are attired in the most e2pen-
sive and richest garments the parents
and relatives can secure.
They are painted, patched and pow
Ccrcd as Is the invariablc custom Of
Kabyle bellies and wear sufficient rings,
bangles. bracelets. chains and brooches
to stock n 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 bor-
rowed or hired for the occasion. AS
there is good deal of rivalry between
the different deheras and kebails in re-
gard to the appearance of their damsels
in the marriage market, there is 10
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
stranger to decide upon the beauty
OF Berber maid. for she tattoos the
face rs well as paints 1t.
How is sale and purchase effected?
In the simplest way imaginable. The
would-bc 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 in
quiring 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 eQuiva-
lent of acceptance.
If not, she merely quotes high price,
sometimes up in the hundreds. and it
is then understood that the offer is
respectfully declined, and the deal is
not likely to be effected. The actual
money price to be paid for girl de-
pends upon the standing of her family,
and the kebal to which they belong.
1t is fixed. moreover, by immemoral
usage, so that every young man knows
pretty well what he will have to pay
for wife. Hence only those VINO
have the requisite 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 any
thing but the docile and obedient
drudges many Western readers i'm
agine. They enjoy a good deal more
freedom, in many respects. than Eu-
ropean wife in a like rank in life.
They unquestionably rule the domestic
en- clogs. the kabkab, with convincing
effect upon the bare pates of their
spouses.
The Satisfa ctory results of such home
discipline is apparent on 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
W
approach and put the momentous ques-
tons. as to the price of the roll of
stuff. When one of them does, at
length. come near to try his luck 1t Is
delightful to sec how the girl raises
her eyes, looks the young fellow de-
liberately over from top to toe, and,
if he does not strike her fancy, dis
misses him with an offhand manner
and toss of the head. The Kabylc
bellies have, or seem to have, an ill., |
stinctive perception when a really
promising candidate for their possession
makes his appearance. Then, indeed, |
their answer is as prompt as 1t is de-
cided. The negafas. too, know their |
business. They see in an instant how |
matters are going.
When promising young clansman |
is either too bashful to step forward |
or Is likely to pass on without an in
quiry the wrinkled old dame who looks
so 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 gener-
ally results in sale.
Business goes on briskly while am
looking around and taking stock of the