T EN T FOR LADY ON CAMEL.
CHAPTER XYIII
In their treacherous raid on Hassi Inifel, and in
similar forays, and in the infamous attempt made by
them to destroy the retreating remnant of the ill-
fated Flatters expedition by selling them poisoned
dates during a pretended truce, the Tawareks are
seen in their traditionally treacherous disposition.
But there is another, a less known and perhaps
more interesting side to their character—they are,
as has been already seen, an educated race, and, in
some respects, it might almost be said that they are
a civilised people.
The Arab social system is practically patriarchal ;
that of the Tawareks is almost matriarchal in its
form. This fundamental distinction causes an immense
difference in the position of the women of
the two races.
An Arab girl is practically sold by her father to
her husband, and has very little voice in the choice
of her spouse. After her marriage she does nearly all
the heavy manual labour of the family, and, especially
among the poorer classes, is treated by her husband
as very little better than a domestic animal—she is
even occasionally harnessed to a plough.
But among the Tawareks such a state of affairs