220 THE EXPLORATION OF THE NIGER parents could do, had refused her fiancd. Her will was respected, and even the Amenokal himself would not have forced her to comply.

Her future husband once chosen, a Tuareg girl has perfect liberty to see him when she likes, and will sometimes travel A TUAREG WOMAN.

on her camel more than fifty miles to pay him a visit. The Tuaregs themselves say that no bad results ensue ; but there are three words for bastard in the Tamschek language, and if it be true that the abundance of expressions for a thing in any tongue proves the prevalence of that thing, we shall know what to think. However, when a Tuareg woman is married, however free and easy she may have been before-