THE MOORS. 
109 
is given them daily ; and, in fine, the same care is taken among; the 
Moors to fatten young women, as in Europe to fatten fowls. The 
■j^ason of a custom like this may be found in the nature of the cli- 
mate and quality of the aliments, which make the people naturally 
meagre. 
The Moors present their wives with jewels of gold, silver, or pearls, 
but very few wear precious stones. They have rings in silver or 
gold ; also ear-rings in the form of a crescent, five inches in circum- 
ference, and as thick as the end of the little finger. They first 
pierce their ears, and introduce a small roll of paper, which they 
daily increase in thickness, till at length they insert the kernel of the 
date, which is equal in size to the ear-ring. They wear bracelets in 
gold and solid silver, and silver rings at the bottom of the legs, some 
of them considerably heavy. The use of white paint is unknown 
among the Moorish women, and that of red but little. It is much 
more common to see them dye their eye-brows and eye-lashes, which 
dye does not add to the beauty of the countenance, but considerably 
to the fire of the eyes. On their visiting-days they wrap themselves 
in a clean fine haick, which comes over the head, and surrounds the 
face, so as to let them see without being seen. When they travel, they 
wear straw hats to keep off the sun; and in some parts of the empire 
the women wear hats on their visits, which is peculiar to the tribes 
coming from the south, who have preserved their customs ; for the 
Moors do not change modes which they have once adopted. 
Marriages, 
The Moors marry very young, many of their females not being 
more than twelve years of age at their nuptials. As Mahometans, 
their religion admits of polygamy to the extent of four wives, and as 
many concubines as they please ; but if we except the very opulent, 
the people seldom avail themselves of this indulgence, as it entails 
upon them a vast additional expense in housekeeping, and in pro- 
viding for a large family. In contracting marriages, the parents of 
both parties are the only agents, and the intended bride and bride- 
groom never see each other till the ceremony is performed. The 
marriage ceremonies are made before the cadi, and then the friends 
of the bride produce her portion ; or, if not, the husband agrees to 
settle a certain sum upon her in case he should die, or divorce her 
on account of barrenness, or any other cause. 
The children of the wives have all an equal claim to the effects of 
the father and mother, but those of the concubines can each only 
claim half a share. 
When the marriage is finally agreed upon, the bride is kept at 
home eight days, to receive her female friends, who pay congratu- 
latory visits every day. At the same time a priest attends upon her, 
to converse with her relative to the solemn engagement on which 
she is about to enter, and he accompanies his admonitions with 
singing a pious hymn, adapted to the solemnity. The bridegroom 
receives visits from his male friends in the morning, and in the 
evening rides through the town accompanied by them, some playing 
on hautboys and drums, others firing volleys of musketry. In all 
