The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-03-13
The Arabian Woman.

The arthor of "Algeria As It Is, !"
says: "The dress of an Arab woman
of the lower class is more simple than
elegant; it consists of q habaya-a kind
of linen chemise with wide sleeves-tied
round the waist with a cord, like the
habit of a capuchin. In the street al
this is covered by a haik, which does
not, however, hide her bare legs adorned
with silver or copper anklets. She
wears large earrings, which are almost
hidden under the mass of hair twisted
about them, while profusion of neck
laces, amulets, coral, and glass beads
fall over her tatooed neck and bosom.
These things belong to the wife person
ally, being settled on her by marriage
stipulation in the case of abandonment
or divorce. Thus she puts them on as
often as possible, for the display of
such finery is one of the few pleasures
she enjoys, 80 the most is made of il.
sometimes 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 blackening the lashes of her large
eyes with koheul. The adjar worn in
Algiers and other large towns was I'M
kuOWu DolOfo tuo t1uo VI AduOuct,
who introduced it toserxe his own per-
position of one man has 6Dndenned all
Muslin women to pass through life
with kercbief over Ter 1sce. The law
OF the prophet is one of many which
has contributed to degrade woman in.
her social position. Whenever they
the young at least-can remove the
.jalousie, which not only conceals their
charms, but prevents them from breath
ing the air CT heaven freely, they take
it of; thus we often meet women un-
veiied In the county 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 neighborhood of Algiers
and Oran. In the Ksbylie the adjar is
not worn; for the Kabyle-who makes
a companion of his wife, and treats her
as his equals not SO suspicious as
the Arab. Young Arab and Moorish
women, We may remark, cover the face
because they are ordered to do SO; the
old find it convenient policy, for, like
charity, it hides many defects. Thus
old women gre in general very strict in
gearing tA( hdiarl themselves, and are
aslittIe ihddgeht 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
be seen. These, instead of the usual
adjar, draw their drapery-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
rambles in the country about Algiers
met with women thus muffled up-and
still more frequent in out of-the- way
places further off-who, on noticing our
apparent speculation OF the countenance
Fwfi@IYof( red so1gY one black Eye to
re the tdfAih Sati Is they iaughipgly
showed us face which had no cause e.
fear being exposed; this was done with
q merry look which seemed to say,
How do you like it; does it please
you p In the same way we have seen
girls in the Arab quarter of Algiers, on
arriving at their own homes, take off
the adjar on the threshold, to allow us,
a single glance, as they cloEe the door
on us, and on our CURIOSITY"