Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-12

colored. Those which saw was by ae-
cident, and therefore had but an Imper-
feet opportunity Of forming Judgement
upon the subject. I collected, however
from the ladies OF Tunis, such information
As gave me correct LEA of their persons
and pursuits.
The women are mostly brunettes--oLt
few of the natives are very lair they have
black eyes tina; sparkle with vivaclty' ge-
nsrally line teeth, and as far as my oosef
walton permitted me to form an opinion, |
should Judge, that Spanish and Turkish
WON. n resemble each other in complexion
and features The person OF Moorish
woman, il fashionable, is corpulent and
unwieldly taking lille or no exercise IN
dolent, and feasting upon the most iat'en-
ing substances they are generally hea'J
and gross, and being deprived OF opportu-
mites to cultivate their minds, the extent
of their accomplishments is knowledge
Of embroidery and making conserves, OF
which thew are amazingly fond. Having
m intercourse with tue world, restrained
in their pursuits, and guarded wlthJeaiou,
sv in their movements, they are ignorant OF
soc;etv and Of manners. They marry very
Young which, with them, is civil and not
a religious tye, to be dissolved almost at
the will of the husband. The parties ne
yer see each other,the match being conclu'
ded by the parents, and may be Justly COM
pared to lottery, andat all IFS risks; the
fortune of the lady seldom consists OF more
than 4 few trunks Of clothes gaudily ar
ranged. The bride is enclosed IN spc-
cies of cage, covered with silk, and pia-
ced On the back of camel, whose head
and tail are crnamented with rlbhands. A
e,y musicians and slaves, carrying on their
heads dishes of Cooscoso, or Pl'law' toge-
Their with the rabbIe, form a procession 10
the house of the bridegroom, where the
ceremony concludes with a FEAST ana 'ne
firing of muskets during the night nus
allied without knowledge OF each others
v;r,ue, and attractions, without love OF
sentiment, it will readily be imagined 'hat
the marriage state in Turkey Is but an nm
nroyed species of slavery. Polygamy be-
=. ouo,ved IN. husband repudiaics his
wife when he pleases, by conforming 10
some frivolous ceremonies. Thus situated
IKE women finding themselves neglected.
without influence Or society, without Ter
derness or affection, they are ever on The
alert to intrigue, and particularly WIN 'ns
Christians, altbo' they are aware that de-
lection is followed by inevitable des'Fuc-
ton TO both parties. They walk On tue
terraces, and frequently unveilthemselVes'
| never passed Moorish woman on '"s
road, who was generally on mule Ecu
bv . slave or a husband, hut she se!2ao
unon an opportunity to remove the SIX
covering from her face, either to crafty her
curiosity or my own. They have been
known to 90 to baths with the hope OF meet.
ina a christian, and have frequently asked
RI them when unobserved, TO repeat the
manner in which christians treat lheir
wives whether kind OF adectionate, con-
;l;atory and humane and the reply al
WAYS produced melancholy comparisons.
u hen asked by a christian what would
be The consequence of the detection OF an
intrigue, the Moorish lady replied, no
thing to you-you will on y loose your
be,d but | will be carried about town on
. mule, with my face uncovered, and IL
ually drowned in the lake" The sense OF
shame creating greater alarm than the pu-
r;sbmen, Of death. The detection OF an
intrigue, if brought home TO the parties, Is
generally punished with death-it is the
religion which is violated, and which can
no, be sppcased by any subordinate sacri-
fee hence the Moors, are particularly VI
o;lent and the women guarded. Having
occasion to visit country house near Car
tbace Belonging to Moor which was to
LET met the owner at the door, who en-
ouired what my business was; being IN
formed he proceeded to shew me the house,
and ms, as | entered the hall, he asked the
droeomap what consul was being an
swcred the American consul, he cried out
suddenly, run and tell the women quick TO
ge, GU, of the way, it i. the American con-
sui who IS coming. This was the first time
knew that Americans were objects OF so
IL NIonr;sh husband. Ihe wn-