Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19

Of the face. in addition to the outside COW
ering, which they hold tight as they go.
They Like Good Clothes.
I am told that the Moorish girls are fond
Of fine clothes, and that these ghostly
wrappings often hide costly garments.
They wear kaftan, a sort Of waist and
skirt which reaches to the feet. and over
this garment Of fine goods. through which
the bright kaftan shows They have belts
of leather or sashes of gold thread They
sometimes have handkerchiefs about their
heads. held UP by cardboard. They are
fond of jewelry and load themselves down
with earrings, bracelets and anklets. They
paint the eyebrows, lips and cheeks. but do
not tattoo.
Slavery Still Common.
AS far as can learn. the Moorish ladies
have an easy time. They nearly all have
slaves. and this is especially so Of those
outside Tangier. There are also slaves
here. but the chief markets for them are
In the cities Of the south. this place be-
Ing too near Europe to permit their being
publicly exposed and sold Most of the
slaves come from the soudan. and the
will bring from SO to $1,000. according ;ts ding
70 age and beauty One Of the dragomen
ABOUT the hotel here tells me he bought
an eleven -year-old girl last week for about
SSs, and he added that she pleased him
his bargain Such slaves become 1a0 na art
Of the family and their children are con-
sidered legitimate.
How the Moors Marry.
1t Is difficult to learn much about tho
customs OF courtship and marriage in q
land where the woman subject is tabooed,
but can give you some information.
Every Mohammedan here, as elsewhere
has the right to four wives but these
Moors as rule have but one. The chief
| reason for this is that two or more female
heads Of family create discord, and the
husband has to keep as many different es-
Establishments as he has wives. In Fee,
where the people richer it is some-
what different; but even there the wealthy
Moor prefers to add slaves to his harem
to taking on an extra wife.
Marriages are made at an early age
Girls wed at fifteen sixteen and young
men at twenty or twenty-five. There is no
such thing as courtship, and the matches
are usually arranged by the parents of
the respective families. There is always
| pected to pay a dowry. In marriage
among wealthy families there are always
preliminary en feasts and presents The
! sweetheart. and the prospective bride puts
herself into training in order that she may
| look her best at the wedding. She takes
| fore the marriage has one every day At
! the same time her cheeks are painted with
rouge. and her finger nails, toe nails. and
| even her feet and the lower parts Of her
arms and legs are decorated with henna
| a red cOloring matter which Is in common
| use throughout the orient
At the Wedding.
l have seen a number of wedding process
sions here in Tangier. The bride is carried
about in a great covered chair or box, and
| there is music and dancing. The ceremony
| usually takes place on Friday, which is the
Mohammedan Sunday. 1t consists largely
| Of the couple joining hands while PRAYERS
| are said over them. On her wedding day
| the bride Is carried about on the shoulders
of the slaves, and great fuss Is made
| over her. Her girl friends keep her com
pany, and there is a wedding feast which
| lasts almost all night. This is followed
| by other feasts throughout the next week
or more.
am told that Moorish husbands first
| duty is to unbraid his wifes hair, and
that, thereafter, she puts on the especial
/ dress OF the married woman The ordinary
Mohammedan marriage is; I understand.
moderately happy, and 1t is said that the
stronger character usually rules the house,
hold Divorces are easily accomplished In
| all Mohammedan countries. and the man
| who wishes to get rid Of his wife has no
| trouble in doing so.
Among the Babies.
! l wish l &C show you some of these
Moorish child, ~ which are focking about
| me. They are just as sweet as our Amert-
| can little ones. although they seem differ
| ent. They dress somewhat like their par
ents. the boys wearing red fez caps and
| long white gowns While playing In the
streets many go bareheaded. and If Won
| will imagine a crowd Of little Americans Of
say six, eight and ten years dressed in
white night gowns playing on the streets and
thoroughly enjoying themselves you will
! have one Of the common sights OF this city
You must make some Of the faces how
| oh
! the heads close, with the exception of
spots here and there. where long locks are
allowed to grow. The little girls have at