on account of their beauty and their
talent in the art of music. They often give concerts, to which the men
come "from long distances--decked out like male ostriches." In these
concerts the women improvise the songs, accompanying themselves on the
tambourine and a sort of violin or _rebaza_. They are much sought
after in marriage, because of the title of _cherif_ which they confer
on their children.[101]

[98] _Ibid._, p. 387.

[99] Duveyrier, _op. cit._, p. 430.

[100] _Ibid._, p. 362.

[101] _Ibid._, p. 347.

There is a touch of chivalrous sentiment in the relations between men
and women.[102] "If a woman is married," Duveyrier tells us, "she is
honoured all the more in proportion to the number of her masculine
friends, but she must not show preference to any one of them. The lady
may embroider on the cloak, or write on the shield of her chevalier,
verses in his praise and wishes for his good fortune. Her friend may,
without being censured, cut the name of the lady on the rocks or chant
her virtues. 'Friends of different sexes,' say the Touaregs, 'are for
the eyes and heart, and not for the bed only, as among the
Arabs.'"[103] Letourneau, in quoting these passages from Duveyrier,
makes the following comment: "Such customs as these indicate delicate
instincts, which are absolutely foreign to the Arabs. They strongly
remind us of the times of our southern troubadours and of the _cours
d'amour_, which were the quintessence of chivalry."[104]

[102] Chavanne, _op. cit._, p. 208 _et seq._

[103] Duveyrier, _op. cit._, p. 429.

[104] Letourneau, _The Evolution of Marriage_, pp. 180-181.

The foregoing example is exceedingly interesting; it shows women
holding the position that as a rule belongs to men, and is thus worthy
of most careful study, but at the same time we must guard against
according it a general value which it does not possess. Such a case is
exceptional, though it by no means stands alone, and the social
position of Targui women is analogous to that of the women of ancient
Egypt. It is important to note that their great independence arose
through the persistence of maternal descent, and could not have been
maintained apart from that system, which placed in their hands the
strong power of wealth. Here, then, is certain proof of the favourable
influence mother-descent may exercise on the status of women. It is
because of this I have brought forward this example of the Targ