| Show MARRIAGE MARKETS A queer institution of the berber tribes of morocco bazars where the merchant sells heiselt herselt with the ot a customer who la to her among the clans in northern africa women are looked upon as chattels to he sold like other possessions and they are accordingly disposed of to the person who makes the hig hast offer to the father or other male guardian amany of the berber tribes of morocco algiers and tunis hold yearly marriage Keis 10 ail the young marriageable girls and widows from the neighboring villages are brought the markets are attended not only by young men and old on the lookout for a ife but also by a curious crowd anxious to see what lots are for sale and what prices they fetch the girls when on view are allowed to have a voice in the selection of their husbands and may decline any proposal they are arranged in rows right across the market place decked in the most telling berber costumes painted powdered and patched in the highest tyle of art loaded down with rings and bangles brooches chains and coins enough to stock a jewelers shop the jewels arc rarely the girl s property lut are borrowed for the occasion fram friends and neighbors as every village takes pride in its girls and wishes them to serve well alie young women are all seated on small squares of carpet spread upon the ground each has an elderly v oman beside her and in front she has as if for sale a small roll of stuff woven by her own hands the faces of the girls are uncovered for berber women do not wear the face concealing haik of the arabs but it is impossible to tell whether they are pretty or not for their faces and foreheads are so painted and even tattooed that the natural features cannot be made out here is a description of a girl of sixteen yellow bars are painted across her face and a patch of gold foil is stuck on her right cheek her forehead is tattooed with a blue circle and her lips and gums are well reddened her hair is arranged in narrow plaits from the end of eacle of which dangle a ribbon and a coin she wears a conf sleeved red silk garment falling from her shoulders halfway down her legs and a red silk scarf worn like a plaid across the left shoulder where it is fastened by a jeweled gold brooch the legs from the knees down are bare but the feet are in little yellow slippers with gold embroidered edges and jeweled tops while round the ankles is a double row of bangles with bells attached on her head is a phrygian cap with a thick corded silk border and fringed ends to which tiny coins are fixed hanging over the forehead down to the eyebrows to a pair of small earrings are attached two farirer rings six inches in diameter from which dangle little bells A heavy necklace is round her neck and below that a massive chain with a central brooch round each arm winds a broad band of gold and below it seven bangles to which bells are fastened another girl may have her whole face painted yellow with little stars and suns and moons in silver foil pasted over it another has blue circles tattooed all over her cheeks the widows wear a white cloth fastened to the top of the head and secured by a brooch at the waist the man who wishes to purchase steps up to the woman of his choice and asks the price of the woven stuff before her if he pleases her she names a very low figure then a loud shrill and prolonged yu yu yu u u uttered by the old woman at her side announces that a bargain has been made and the crowd shouts its approve alif she does not care for the man she names an absurdly high price then he walks off to inspect the next lot the girls are perfectly self possessed the young men are a good deal more nervous and look as sheepish as a european might in their place they are dressed in their best in long red with high straw hats surmounted by cabbage shaped plumes one will spend an hour and sometimes two or three walking about the girl he wants before he dares to ask the price of the woven roll the girls watch the men out of the corners of their eyes apparently unconcerned chatting and laughing at them when the suitor presents himself they eye him boldly from licad to foot as they would a horse and if he suits he gets a prompt answer sometimes the old woman will encourage a bashful youth with a wink or a nod the old men set to work in a businesslike business like manner and walk down the line making their proposal to one after another until they find some one who will accept their offer |
