New-York tribune., 1921-12-18
Native Customs
OF Berber Tribes
Are Interesting
Wedding Ceremony of the
Moroccan Nomads Is
Unique, but Brides Soon
Forget Clamor of Event

MELuIA, Morocco, Nov. 10 (By
Msil) The customs Of the two Berber
tribes whose territory has just been re-
occupied by Spanish troops rs = result
OF their recent victories, are very in
teresting.
These tribes are known as the BENZ
Ruyahi and Beni-Bu-Ifrur. including
the settlements Of Segangan and Ecu
lam extending to Monte Arruit, Tis-
tutin, Batel and Garet.
According to tho best information
they number about 10000, Of whom
about 5000 are males Of fighting age.
In the last fifteen years their number
has been xeduced from about 10000 Of
both sexes by intertribal lighting and
migration because Of bad harvests.
The tribes are divided into nine
factions, all Of which quarrel frequ-
emily among themselves, practice
common Of the Berber stock from
which they descend. They became
mixed with the Arab invaders in the
seventh century.
They are nomads who settle tempor-
arily in places whess the pasture is
plentiful, for they possess large num-
bers of camels, sheep and cattle. They
live under large tents, which they
pitch in circles, thus forming an aduar,
or settlement. The tents are made Of
sleeps wool mixed with camel or
49, l~,. e. ! L
the tribesmen, while the poorer men,
bers of the tribes must content them
selves with grass fiber.
The men are of changeful mood, at
times seeking adventure in rapine and
at others indulging in prolonged Pc
riods Of lasiness.
Women Do All Work
Polygamy prevails among them in
proportion to their means Of providing
sustenance for the women. These poor
creatures in every part Of Morocco lead
the most miserable lives. They look
after the cattle, grind the grain, make
the bread, churn the butter, hew the
wood, draw the water which often has
to be carried long distances, shear
the sheep and goats, card and weave
the wool and hair as we'll as the grass
fibre, do all the ploughing and sowing,
ly husbands even worse than the ami
mails to whom they are yoked for field
work.
Their only consolation is in eating.
They consume four meals daily. at
which they drink great quantities of
weak tea, and before they retire for
the night devour large quantities Of
alsuzcuz balls composed of -four, water
and honey.
and never forget to put them to pas
ture facing away from the sun SO that
they will never lose their sight
through the brightness. =
Among the chief festivities are those
connected with births and the giving of
names, which occurs eight days after
birth, when the father sacrifices q
sheep and, sprinkling the blood, pro-
nounces the names to be given to the
child in the name OF Allah.
AT twenty years of age, it is Gus
tomary to marry. A young man then
announces to his father his desire to
wed certain young woman. The
father communicates with the father
of the chosen bride and sends his
brothers to sacrifice a sheep in front
OF his tent, at the same time appeal
ing to the father to give his daughter
IN marriage to their nephew.
Bride Has Nothing to Say
If the father consents, the price Of
the young woman and the dowry she is
to bring with her is agreed upon. The
day of the ceremony is settled, the
bride knowing nothing about it.
When the wedding day arrives, the
parents of the bridegroom go in pro-
cession to the tent Of the brides
father, to whom they bring the half
of the price to be paid for the bride,
receiving in return therefor the half
of the brides dowry. The men fire
three rife shots and the women shout
with JOY.
The couple, although the ceremony
is yet incomplete, go to their future
tent together. The real wedding en-
sues the following day when the bride
is taken in procession on the back of
a camel, covered with silks and fol-
lowed by her body slave if she is
wealthy enough to possess one, to the
tent Of the bridegroom, where she is
welcomed by his parents and the re-
mainder of the price and dowry
changes hands. The wedding is COM
pleted to the accompaniment Of much
feasting.
A bride who proves unfaithful may
be sent back to her fathers tent
dressed in sackcloth.