The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-07-09
0eneral Sntelligenee.
A MOORISH HOUSEHOLD.
visit TO a MussuI man Family-M oOr-
fsh Dom neutrality-suspicious. to Polyg

La Hon S. s. Cox, in letter to the
New Iolk World, thus describes visit to
a Moorish family i'll Algiers: sour visit
had been previously arranged, and prom
Use made that we should see all the trim
kets, iewelry, ETC., of Moorish household.
AS Mustapha Rayato led the way to his
house, he emerged upon the narrow streets
through which We were passing. he sad
that once he, too, could afford to live in an
elegant house in better quarters, but the
French came, and all was changed. He
had sold his house, taking one much in
feriof, and kept his shop like one Of the
common people. We did not see the de-
eradation of that, but out Of respect to our
host we forbore comment
1--WE enter the ordinary Moorish house
by large double, common. wooden door,
IT opens into a small square vestibule
A neatly whitewashed stairway is in front
and door at the side opens to the inner
court. The double piazza incloses the
court, and the lower rooms are devoted to
the servants The stairs were of slate, and
1 noticed their extreme cleanliness was not
in the least disturbed by the boots of the
gentlemen, since our host had quietly
dropped his shoes at the door and encas-
ed his feet IN another and clean pair ready
for him at the foot of the stairway Meme
"A good idea for the lords of creation of
other nations The doors of the piazzas
and ROOMS were of porcelain tiles, We
were ushered into the salon de reception,
one of the four upper rooms reserved for
Mustaphas family. a low, cushioned di-
van ran the length of the room, and in the
front, scattered over the room, were car
pets, rugs, and silken cushions. Nine
Rayato rose gracefully to receive
us and gave US the Arab salutations. Then,
we choose our seats as best suited US; |, on
the divan near our host, my Italian COM
panion on the carpet in front, charming
little French madame we had encountered
on our travels for the gentlemen were ex-
cluded), upon the cushion by our side.
Nine. Rayato on the other side of her
liege lord, with her group of three very
pretty daughters, while number four, d
pretty child of about that number of years,
nestled between her fathers knees, and
alternately bestowed and received caresses
from her handsome papa. Indeed, 1T
seemed much like Christian household in
this respect; q beautiful domestic picture,
Mustapha's face radiated with pleasure,
'as he foated down the calm current of
domestic bliss Nine. Rayato was very
pretty type of the Moorish woman She
had decidedly Spanish features and COM
plexion, as we thought; we afterward found
it was true as she was descended from o
very wealthy and noble Spanish family
1. e., a Moorish family once celebrated in
Spain before the Moors were driven thence
Her hair was dazzling in its blackness. 1t
was cut short at the neck and covered With
q silken foulard handkerchief whose en-
broidered and fringed ends hung iauntily
upon one side in the form of heavy tas-
sell A diamond word fastened it on the
forehead; au agrafe, with pendants, orra-
nlented the point at The tie; and these were
matched with earrings OF pendant soil
taires She wore @ crimson velvet basque,
cut nearly in the Pompadour style, with
lace chemisette, and confined at the waist
by girdle of the same, the girdle
and basque embroidered in gold.-
Large. full muslin 'pantalons, over
those of a thicker material, completed
the toilet Of the madame. A dozen strings
of pearls were around the neck, and sew
eral pairs of bracelets, in antique designs,
of gold and diamonds, and massive gold
anklets, were the ornament of hands and
feet OF course, she had put on the addi-
tional number of jewels, &c, to redeem the
promise made TO us to display all her BIZ
jouterie The diamonds were set in silver,
SO we were able to bearsstheir brilliancy
without envy Had thu setting been gold
l would not speak for our integrity After
ward, jackets Of gold cloth and 'pantaIons'
10 match, were shown us, for fete occasions
The children were attired like the mother,
only with less jewelry, and instead of the
foulard head tie they wore the little fancy
Greek cap of gold coins, tied coquetishlv
ut one SIDE
"Salutations over, and jewelry examined,
we explained our different nationalities, we
speaking in French and Mustapha Ravato
translating into Arabic for his wife. We
inquired If they have French masters for
their children, since their country is be-
coming essentially French? No. Our
religion does not allow instructions in any
other than our own language Did you
take your wife with you to the Paris expo-
sition? oh, mol Moorish ladies seldom
travel They do not always stay at home,
surelyY No. We go to our country
house for the summer, said madame, and
we ladies go to the cemetery on Friday
Besides, we visit among each other. :
But IN the evening" in the city p
Do you not drive out as we do to taky
the fresh air oh, no. Never = sWhe |
should they? says NJ Rayato. They
have the court here, and the freedom of
the house. Your daughters marry so
young--when do you expect to give M
your pretty charge there :? pointing to his
Oldest of IA, in size and precocitv already
20 oh, in two years more, probably, at
which the young lady coyly concealed her
bushes behind her mamma NJ. Ravato
remarks that no dowry is needed on the
part of the girl, but the would-be husband
must bestow q certain sum- You must be
happy to know that you can add to that
sum, however, for your daughters COM
fortY oh yes Allah be thanked the
French have not taken my ALL Our French
madame appeared to enjoy all these dia-
tribes against her own nation as much as we
did.
d" But, VI. Rayato. how is it2 You have
but one wife,? Here Nine. R., curious to
know the question. opened her great black
eyes half suspiciously and said, on the in
slant the translation was given If he had
another would strangle herr and, with
equal qulckness, turned on us, saving:
But why is 1t madame has but one hus-
band 2 To this we could make but one re- |
ply, and that in her own language previous
ly given in answer to our numerous other |
questions: 1T is our law-it is our rei- |
gion Here neat, bright-eyed muIatto |
gial, who proved to be our acquaintance of |
the night before at the religious rites. an
pears and bring IN low table or stool. |
She follows it with q silver salver on which
were china cups In silver filigree holders,
filed with odorous coffee. Napkins of the
length of towel, with embroidered golden
ends, were unfolded for each, and laid up
on our laps; then the sugared coffee, with
out cream or spoons, was passed followed
with blocks of q jeweled paste, handed to