It is to the Targui ladies, says Duveyrier, that is due the preservation of the ancient Lybian and ancient Berber writing.[1]
Leaving domestic work to their slaves, the Targui ladies occupy themselves with reading, writing, music, and embroidery;[2] they live as intelligent aristocrats.
"The ladies of the tribe of the Ifoghas are renowned," says again Duveyrier, "for their savoir-vivre and their musical talent; they know how to ride mehari better than all their rivals. Secure in their cages, they can ride races with the most intrepid cavaliers, if one may give this name to riders on dromedaries; in order, also, to keep themselves in practice in this kind of riding, they meet to take short trips together, going wherever they like without the escort of any man."[3] Targui gallantry has preserved for the women of the tribe of Imanan, who are descended from the ancient sultans, the title of royal women (timanôkalîn) on account of their beauty and their superiority 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 sing while accompanying themselves on the tambourine and a sort of violin or rebâza. They are much sought after in marriage, because of the title of cherif which they confer on their children."[4]
The Targui lady often sings in the evenings, improvising and accompanying herself on the rebâza. If she is married, says Duveyrier, 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 the heart, and not for the bed only, as among the Arabs."[5]
Such customs as these indicate delicate instincts which
