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 been able to obtain legally a great amount of independence; it constitutes a remarkable exception, and may, perhaps, be referred to the influence of the Berber races, which, according to Egyptian traditions themselves, played an important part in the foundation of primitive Egypt.

IV. The Monogamy of the Touaregs and Abyssinians.

We have already seen that our contemporary Kabyles, although of Berber origin, make the yoke of their wives very hard; but it may be admitted that, in this respect, they have been influenced by numerous conquerors. A certain emancipation of women seems to be a characteristic trait of Berber societies. Even at the present time, among the Touaregs of the Sahara, who have preserved their independence and the purity of their race better than the Kabyles, the rich woman enjoys a social position analogous to that of the ladies of ancient Egypt.

In spite of the Mussulman law, the Targui woman practically imposes monogamy on the man. She would immediately seek a divorce if her husband attempted to give her a rival.

Amongst the Touaregs filiation is still maternal, and confers the rank. "The child follows the blood of the mother;" the son of a slave or serf father and a noble woman is noble. "It is the womb which dyes the child," they say in their primitive language. "Absolute mistress of her fortune, her actions, and her children, who belong to her and bear her name, the Targui lady goes where she will and exercises a real authority." She seldom marries before the age of twenty, and she marries as she pleases, the fathers only intervening to prevent mésalliances. She eats with her husband, to whom, however, she owes obedience, and who can kill her in case of adultery.—(Duveyrier, 339-430.)

The Targui women know how to read and write in greater numbers than the men. It is well known, besides, that rudimentary instruction in reading and writing is widely spread among the Mahometan population of North Africa.