The toilet of the Moorish ladies is not confined to the use of henna; the lady in question had her hair dressed; her tresses, which hung on her shoulders, were smeared with a sort of ointment, made of butter, pounded cloves, and water; and adorned with amber, coral, and bits of glass of different colours. I had never seen a Mooress so bedizened before. In the evening I went to look for the lover; a young Moor accompanied me. We met him close to the camp, and I concluded that he was going to his intended; but he told me, on the contrary, that he did not chuse to pass by her tent, and that he was on the way to one of his friends. I expressed my surprise, and he told me that he wished to avoid the lady’s relations; on this subject we had a long conversation, the substance of which is as follows. When a young man becomes attached to a girl, and wishes to marry her, he seeks her in secret, and obtains her consent. That point secured, he commissions a marabout to treat with the girl’s relations, as to the presents which he is to make, the number of oxen he is to give to the bride’s mother &c. This being arranged, the marabout who has undertaken the negotiation informs the other marabouts, when they are assembled to prayer, the lover himself being present. From this moment the lover is not to see the father and mother of his future bride; he takes the greatest care to avoid them, and if by chance they perceive him they cover their faces, as if all the ties of friendship were broken. I tried in vain to discover the origin of this whimsical custom; the only answer I could obtain was, “It is our way.” I did not like to suppose that a connexion of this kind could destroy the esteem and affection which had previously subsisted between the two families, and I took some pains to ascertain whether it was so or not; I often talked to a father of his son-in-law and _vice versâ_; and I found that the indifference was only feigned, that they felt the same affection as before, and in conversation extolled one another’s merit. The custom extends beyond the relations; if the lover is of a different camp, he avoids all the inhabitants of the lady’s camp, except a few intimate friends whom he is permitted to visit. A little tent is generally set up for him, under which he remains all day, and if he is obliged to come out, or to cross the camp, he covers his face. He is not allowed to see his intended during the day, but, when every body is at rest, he creeps into her tent and remains with her till day-break. This indiscreet method of courtship lasts for a month or two; after which the marriage is solemnized by a marabout. The mother of the bride gives a feast, and kills an ox if she can afford it; providing abundance of couscous and sangleh for the guests, who are sure to be numerous. The women collect round the bride, singing her praises and amusing themselves the whole of the day; I have seen some of them dance.