Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/321

 KABTLIA. 269 amongst the Zwawa tribes. The Ait-Iraton and Bcni-Abboa have settled in Algiers as bakers and bankers. But most of the emigrants become jwrters in the coast towns, or else pedlars and hawkers in the rural districtrt. Wh<»le colonies become associated with the Arab tribes on the plaiuK, where they gradually acquire jmssession of the land. In this way several Kabyle villuges have sprung up in the vicinity of Guelma, Shershell, Aumale and other towns. Since the cessation of tribal warfare, the rapid increase of population even obliges the Kabyles constantly to widen the field of migration, and they have already begun to invade Tunisia, the oases of the desert, and Marocco. The number of temporary or permanent emigrants has thus risen from about twelve thousand in the middle of the century to some forty thousand at the present time. The Kabyles have all the sterling qualities of true peasants — patience, frugality and thrift. Extremely honest and incapable of deception, they exact from others the same probity in their mutual dealings. But notwithstanding their careful habits and strict attention to the main chance, they can at times unbend, and willingly indulge in social amusements, songs, and merry-makings. However conservative of the old usiiges, they are less slaves to routine than the French peasantry. They gladly introduced the potato into their gardens, and have recently taken to cultivating the vine in a large way on the outer slopes of the Jurjura highlands. They are above all distinguished by their excessive love of personal independence. All want to be " sultans at home ; " all speak of their honour, and have constantly on their tongue the Arabic word ;///, which properly means "nose," but which symbolises personal dignity and sensitiveness. But their self-respect is not shown in any love of fine clothes. The gandura is worn till it fulls to pieces, nor is it always easy to detect the original colour of the national sheshia. The houses also, in which oxen, goats and poultry have their share, are often unspeakably foul. " The Kabyle never dreams of sweeping his dwelling until the time comes for manuring his vegetable garden."* The Kabyle marriage is a strictly business transaction, the wife being purchased of her parents for from £8 to £40, according to their rank and influence, or her personal charms. " The father eats his daughter," says the local expression, master of the bride, the husband may send her buck at pleasure, in which case the parents may again offer her for sale, on condition of returning the whole or part of the purchace-money to the first husband. Nothing is simpler than the form of divorce, a single word thrice repeated sufficing to dissolve the union. The husband's authority is absolute, and in several tribes he fonnerly placed a stick by the side of his bride, a formality needing no verbal interpretation. Infidelity on her part is severely punished ; before the French occupation she was usually condemned to be stoned, and even still most of the murders committed in Kabylia are due to the secret observance of the old law. Nevertheless, the wife enjoys great freedom in domestic affairs, and when badly used by her husband may even take refuge with her parents. She also goes abroad unveiled, but never alone.
 * when he squanders the sum received as her dowry." On the other hand, once
 * L Feraud, "Rerue Africaine," November, 1862.