WOMEN IN MOROCCO.

Evening Star, Issue 3428, 16 February 1874, Page 3

WOMEN IN MOROCCO.

The condition of women in Morocco is most pitiable. They are all slaves, and the lot of those who are so avowedly and technically, is much less miserable, dull, monotonous, and degraded than that oi the ladies who are supposed to repose on satin divans, sip sherbet, eat dainty devices in sugar, and string pearls in the harem j in which their occupations are in reality much more prosaic, and their surroundings much less splendid. The wedding festivities are exceedingly barbarous, the unhappy bride being carried to her husband s house in a box on a mule's back, with a little boy also shut up with her in durance, as a happy prognostic of the future. A box of sweetmeats is also placed in a box. A horrible noise, howling, drumming, firing is kept up the whole way \ and the female relations of the bridegroom, who does not appear at all, receive her on the threshold with appalling shrieks of Ah—yee ! Ah-yee ! The box is carried in, the door is shut, the friends disperse, but the musicians remain, and the horrible din goes on for hours. No religious ceremoney takes place, and fattening of the bride is the only preparation on her part for holy matrimony. “ For this purpose,” says our author, <l from the term of her betrothal she is confined to one room, not permitted to take any exercise, and compelled to swallow large quantities of kesksoo every day. This system, steadfastly pursued for a few weeks, biings her into a condition of what is considered in Morocco becoming obesity. I have heard of an intended biide so fat that she was unable to pick up her pocket handkerchief when she dropped it, and who could with difficulty move across the room without assistance.”