The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-03-18
Tte Arabian Woman.

The a~thor OF g AIgeTis As It Is -
says: sFhe dress OF an Arab woman
of the lover class is nlors simple than
elegant it consists of a h4b aya-a kind
OF hnen ch smise with wide sleeves tied
round the waist with cord, like the
habit of eaput bin. 10 the stcest all
tins is covered by 8 haik, which does
not. however, hide her bare legs sdorpf
with silver or copper apklets. She
wears large earrings, which are almost
hidden under the msss OF hair twisted
about them, while a pr0fUsion OF neck
laees, auulets, coral, and glass beads
fall over her tatooed neck and bosom.
These things bslongto the wife person
al y being settled an her by a marriage
stipulation 10 the case OF abandonment
er divorce. Thus she puts them on as
often as possible. for the display of
such fnery is one OF the Few pleasares
she enjoys, SO the most j. made of It.
gometimss she dyes her hands, and al
ways her nails. with the orange tint of
henna, and il fond OF the scent called
souak. She, like her Moorish sisters,
also attempts to improve upon nature
by blsckening The lsshes of her large
Eyes With koheul. The adjar worn in
Algiers and other large towns was un-
known before the time OF Mahomet,
who introduced it to serve his own per.
sonal jealousy thus the distrustf1l dis
position of one man has condemned all
mBslim women to pass through life
with kerchief over her face. The law
of the prophet is one OF many which
has contributed to degrade womzn IN
her social position. Whenever they
the young at least-ean remove the
jGl0essie, which not only conceals their
charms, but prevents them from breath
ing the air of heaven freely, they take
it off; thus We often meet women un
veiled in the country when no Arab is
near. If they see one approaching they
Immediately replace the veil, but they
are not equally particular when they
meet Roumi, so. that many opportuni-
ties of seeing their faces. are offered,
even in the neighpprhOod OF Algit rs
and Oran. In the kabylie the adiar is
not worn; for the Kabyle-whO makes
epmpahion of his wife, and treats her
as his equals not so suspicious IS
the Arab. Young Arab aud Moorish
women, we may remark, cover the face
because they are ordered to do so the
ola find it convenient policy. for. like
charity it hides many defects. Thus
old women are in general very strict in
wearing the adjsr themselves, and are
as little indulgept to young ones who
are caught without it as the Jealous
husband himself the reason being envy
in one case and mistrust In the other.
Some of the sex allow only one eye to
b seen. These, instead Of the usual
adjar, draw their drapeFy (which covers
from head to foot-over the face, leav-
ing little hole for the solitary optic to
peep through. We have often IN our
ramhlss in the country shout Algiers
met with women thus muffied up-and
still more frequent in. out of the way
places further off-who, on noticing our
apparent speculation of the eounteDance
winch offered only one black eye to
guide us in our coniectures, suddenly
let the curtain fall as they laughingly
showed us a face which had no cause TO
fear being exposed this was done with
merry look which seemed to say,
How do you like it; does it please
you 2 In the same way we have seen
girls in the Arab quarter of Algiers, on
arriving at their own homes, take of
the adiar on the threshold, to allow us
a single glance, as they close the door
on us, and on our curiosity.