WHERE WIVES ARE FATTENED.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 3175, 22 June 1900, Page 2

WHERE WIVES ARE FATTENED.

Throughout the empire of Morocco and in Tunis there are villages where the elder members of the adult population follow professionally the pursuit of fattening youn^ ladies for the matrimonial market of Barbary. The Moors, like the Turks and most other Orientals, give a decided preference to ' moon faced' wires over lean ones. A girl is put under the process of fattening when she is about twelve years of age. Her hands are tied behind her, and she is seated on a carpet during so many hours every day, whilst her * pap*' stands over her with <* matracjue—big stick—and her mother at times pops into her mouth a. ball of couscouesou, or stiff maize porridge, kaeaded up with grease, and just large enough to be swallowed without the patient choking. If the unfortunate giil declines to be stuffed, she is compelled, so that ere long the poor child resigns herself to the torture, and gulps down the boluses lest she should be beaten.