The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-01-26
GIRLS OF TR|POL|| HAS P7|FUL RECORD
Her Birth at First Is Regarded
as Disaster.
ChIId's Only Hope Of Emancipation
Hitherto Has Been an Early
MarrIage-Has Brief Period
of Freedom.

Tripoli.-Like most Mussulman peo-
pies, the various tribes of Tripoli pro-
fess profound contempt for women.
although even the most conservative
of them are slowly giving their women
, a wider education, hitherto unknown
Difference and stronger position in
their respective families. But old Gus
toms die hard and it is a 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
wifes medical attendant is: is it
boy?"
And, if the answer be, "Soccahet!
1t is 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
But should the doctor humbly answer,
May Allah pity you! 1t is only
grill" things pass very differently.
But as the first years pass. the
baby so coldly welcomed, usually
grows into a wonderfully pretty child
black hair that would make the aver
age American woman envious.
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-
sented 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 over, she begins her preparations
for the wedding. Her trousseau is
simplicity itself, for, as most Of her
garments are shawl-like affairs that
she Grapes artistically about her, they
depend mainly on color and texture
for elegance.
AS her wedding morn dawns in
CO. he Of
sky where stars still tremble, she
is awakened by her mother, who alone
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 ap-
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 a 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
the way to the new home, where a
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 a short stay
returns to his companions.
The insignificant religious ceremony
takes place the following morning,
and for six days after it 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 If
they left table unsatisfied they might
wish i'll to the young husband and
wife.
When the last reveler has left, when
all her friends have hidden her a fare
well 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.