The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-02-16
GIRLS OF TR|POL|
Her Birth at First Is Regarded
as Disaster.
ChIId's Only Hope of Emancipation
Hitherto Has Been an Early
Marrlage-Has Brief Period
of Freedom.

IElpOli.--Lihe uOSI MubSulIHdu pSO-
pies, the various tribes of Tripoli pro-
fess a profound contempt for women,
although even the most conservative
of them are slowly giving their women
wider education, hitherto unknown
Difference and a stronger position in
their respective families But old GUS
toms die hard and 1t is curiously
cramped and monotonous existence
that the maid of this picturesque At
rican region knows. No thrill of
pleasure greets her birth, for the first
question a wealthy father asks his
wife's medical attendant is: is it a
boy?"
And, II the answer be, "Soccahet!
1t Is a son and Allah is almighty"
the joyful news spreads rapidly, guns
are fired, drums are beaten and neigh
bors hasten to congratulate the young
mother and do full justice to rich
feast of sirups, sweets and unlimited
quantities of the coarse native wine.
which, fermented in goatskins, is SO
very unpleasing to a foreign palate.
But should the doctor humbly answer,
May Allah pity you! 1t Is only
girl" things pass very differently.
But as the first years pass, the
baby. SO coldly welcomed. usually
grows into wonderfully pretty child
with fine features and a wealth OF
black hair that would make the aver
age American woman enyious.
When she is about IL years old her
father begins to look out for suit
able husband for her, for the Tripoli
girl considers herself an old maid If
she is not married before her four.
teenth birthday.
When the sutton and the girls
father are agreed, the fiancee is pre-
scented to her future husband, and as
this first meeting takes place to the
accompaniment of deafening shots,
songs, cries and the shrill music OF
the flute, so dear to oriental ears, her
first impression Is apt to be rather
confused one.
Immediately after the formal pre-
sentation which means acceptance
is oyer she begins her preparations
for the wedding. Her trousseau is
simplicity itself. for, as most of Ter
garments are shawl-like affairs that
she drapes artistically about her, they
depend mainly on color and texture
for elegance.
AS her wedding morn dawns In
streaks of amethyst and rose across
sky where stars still tremble, she
4 Ix., l. xnyIxx nj
shares her breakfast of goats milk
and corn cakes. Then her friends ar
rive and she is robed in white, decked
with her new jewels, her lips are
rouged, a fine line of khel is drawn
around her eyes to increase their APP
parent size, perfume Is brushed into
her hair and she is yelled in the gold
tissue-a valued heirloom In her fam.
ily-which on this occasion covers
her face Seated in a covered chair
she is borne by servants on gayly.
harnessed mules back to meet the
groom. Half way between their re-
spective dwellings, and accompanied
by his friends. he awaits her; then
with every sign OF pleasure, he leads
wedding feast. for men only. is spread.
The bride passes the day In her own
apartment, where she entertains her
girl friends, and the hours slip by In
music. eating and much laughter until
sunset, when the door opens, the
bridegroom enters. greets his bride
affectionately, and after short stay
returns to his companions.
The Insignificant religious ceremony
takes place the following morning
and for six days after 1t the young
couple are attended by their friends.
On the seventh day the bride makes
her debut as a housekeeper, for she
then gives a farewell banquet to the
departing guests. For this she spares
neither money nor trouble, for the
tribesmen are great eaters. and II
they left table unsatisfied they might
wish ill to the young husband and
wife.
When the last reveler has left. when
all her friends have hidden her fare
we'll that may last all her life, then,
and then only. does the little wife of
IA begin to know the man who is now
her lord, the absolute owner of her
soul and body, whose word must be
her future law and who she prays
may also be more than all these
things to her-the kindly splendid
lover of her timid childish heart.