Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-09-01
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From t! e American in Egypt.
Domestic Habits Of the Egyptians.

pie tn wash their hands before and after
their meals. though they are MT so par
tlcular about their faces. which Look as
though their rossessors had naturally
ssrophohia. This is one reason. am IN
ctined IL think. why there are so many per-
sons that warfncimate suffering with OPP
thalmia aud almost total blindness. The
faces of the Arabs are oft-tlmes loath-
some to look at, on account of the alb
omiuable filth that hangs about them.
This is particularly the case with the
children of the poorer classes. who are so
neglected that the fees and sometimes
insects. gather on their faces, and settle
arounh their ewes in Large clusters, whore
they remain undisturhed. poisoning the
eye, until they fly away Of their own ac-
cord.
The mode Of eating in Tarkey is gen.
orally conducted with great decornn, and
with much Difference To the master, or
whnmsoever presdss over the repast,
Though they all eat rather rapidly. The
master Of the house commences first. and
the guests. or other memb ers ot' the fami-
", follow his example. The flowing
sleeve Of The right arm Of each person is
tnckeI up above the elbow. SO as not !,
tjscnmmotie the party, or get bcsmeared
IN the dish The dishes are generally
eressed 50 as 10 give no one any inconve-
nienc" in eating, without knife & fork.
Fhe dishes Of the Arabs comprise, for
t'le most part, stewed meats, with onions
Gu: IN fHe. and sometimes other vegeta-
HES. Eeice enters largely into the diet
cf the orieutaIs. 4 tavorlte way OF cook
in. lamb Or mutton. is TO cut il up in
snisl! bits and rca<: II on skewers. They
eat large oesn les Of vegetables, such as
beans. peas, cabbage. spinnage, onuns,
garlic, ca cetera. Some dishes are COM
posed Of vegetables cooked in liquid but
Ter. There are no hogs kept in Egypt,
and they have little else to cook With ex-
cept the butter made from sheep, gta =,
and cows milk. and being kept in the
warm season in goatskiuhs, it run. like
oil.
The Arab mode Ct cooking i, greasy.
and their victuals unwholesomc. Garlic
or onions enter into the composition Of
almost every dish, observed IN Greece
and Syra, as well as in Egypt. that the
people were very fond ofvegetabes, and
they are frequently seen eating them raw
in the streets. and about the market
places. The probability is that they are
relished with as good an appetite by the
miserable inhabitants Of Egypt at the pre-
sent day. as they were by their more re-
fined ancestors who, according to some
ancient writer's, treated taem as Gods,
when taking an oath, which circum-
stance laid them open to the ridcuIe of
some, on account Of their veneration for
sach odorferous deities.
Onions and garlic were sometimes for.
hidden to the ancient priests Of Egypt !;
though. according to Mr.. Wilkinson,
they, together with uther vegetables. were
not fnrs;dden to the generality Of the
people, 10 whom they were principal
article Of food.
The garlic and onions Of Egypt must.
no doubt. have been in high state of
perfection in the days Of Moses, and in
great repnte among his murmurins and
disobedient hosts. or they would not pl o.
baby have troubled their leader so tnnch
for bringing them oat from serving the
Egyptians. and away from their flesh pots,
where 'sthev did eat bread to the full ;"
For they said in their murmurinss. We
remember the fish which we did eat in
Egypt freel y !: the cucumbers, and the
melons, and the iceks,. and the onions
and the gay'ic.';+
The Arabs seldom, or never touch food
with the left hand, and when fowl or
turkey is TO be separated. it is frequent
iy performed by the right hands nf two
persons sitting near together; though
some of them are so expert in this mode
Of carving as to dssect fowl very hand
somey with the right hand alone.
Should the master of the table select
my particular.nice BIZ Of meat and osiier
i. to the guest, it is considered ma, k
81 great civility, and should be received
in ones mouth from his fingers.
The Arabs have great variety of
dishes, and sometimes get Up a. whole
sheep. lamb, or kid, stuffed With onons.
garlic, pistachio nuts. &c. These, how
ever. are never polluted by the sordld
taach Of irnn or steel after they are
i.-Jpsh. to table 81 bur, like thc haned
fowl, are separated with the right hand
s'y the master Of the repast, assisted oc.
casionally by one or more of the guests.
It's greasy business, as one may well
enough judge; bat when their hands are
washed it is all over. There are ne
knives and forks. and no plates TO clean
The usual beverage Ct the Egyptians i:
tie water Of the Nile; and more deli.
rious or healthful beverage cannot be
found, ] think, in the world. lis color
i, not very tempting at first, being of
dark yellow and generally rather deepl y
charged with small particles of veegeta'
bic matter. T. is not always drunk IN
this turbid state. though no'inJury what
ever results TO ore from drinking it free
~ before it is settled, and many travel.
lt.rs prefer It fresh dipped from the Nile.