TAFYLE.
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opposition to that of his Sheikh. The father of the young man
who had eloped had come with us from Kerek, for the whole family ¬
had been obliged to fly, the Bedouin laws entitling an injured
husband to kill any of the offender’s relations, in retaliation for the
loss of his wife. The husband began by demanding from the
young man’s father two wives in return for the one carried off, and
the greater part of the property which the emigrant family possessed ¬
in Tafyle. The father of the wife and her first cousin also
made demands of compensation for the insult which their family
had received by her elopement. Our Sheikh, however, by his
eloquence and address, at last got the better of them all : indeed it
must in justice be said that Youssef Medjaly was not more superior
to the other mountaineers in the strength of his arm, and the excellence ¬
of his horsemanship, than he was by his natural talents.
The affair was settled by the offender’s father placing his four
infant daughters, the youngest of whom was not yet weaned, at the
disposal of the husband and his father-in-law, who might betrothe
them to whomsoever they chose, and receive themselves the money
which is usually paid for girls. The four daughters were estimated -
at about three thousand piastres, and both parties seemed
to be content. In testimony of peace being concluded between
the two families, and of the price of blood being paid, the young
man’s father, who had not yet shewn himself publickly, came to
shake hands with the injured husband, a white flag was suspended
at the top of the tent in which we sat, a sheep was killed, and we
passed the whole night in feasting and conversation.
The women of Tafyle are much more shy before strangers than
those of Kerek. The latter never, or at least very seldom, veil
themselves, and they discourse freely with all strangers; the former, -
on the contrary, imitate the city ladies in their pride, and reserved ¬
manners. T’he inhabitants of Tafyle, who are of the tribe
