The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-16
ARAB WOMEN.

The dress Of an Arab woman Of the lower class
is more simple than elegant. 1t consists of a
habaya-a kind OF linen chemise with wide
sleeves-tied round the waist with cord like
covered by 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 necklaces anu
let', coral and glass beads fall over her tattooed
neck and bosom.
| These things belong to the wife personally.
being settled on her by marriage stipulation in
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 en-
Joys, so that the most is made Of it. Sometimes
she dyes her hands, and always her nails with the
orange tint OF henna, and is fond of the scent
called souak. She, like her Moorish sisters, also
ing the lashes of her large eyes with
koheul. The adjar worn in Alglers
and other large towns was unknown be-
fore the time Of Mahomet, who introduced
1t to serve his own personal jealousy thus the
dlstrustful disposition of one man has con-
demned all Musem women to.pass through life
with kerchief over the face. This law of the
Prophet is one of many which has contributed to
degrade woman In her social position When
ever they-the young at least-can remove the
Jdlousle, which not only conceals their charms
but prevents them from breathing the air Of
heaven freely, they take it off thus we often
meet women unvailed In the country when no
Arab is near.
If they see one approaching they Immediately
replace the veil, but they are not equally par
ticuar when they meet Roumi, so that many
opportunities of seeing their faces are offered,
even liz the neighborhood Of Algiers and Oran.
In the Kabylie the adjar is not worn; for the
Cabylie-who makes a companion of his wife. |
and treats her as his equals not so suspicious
as the Arab. Young Arab aud 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 are in general very strict in |
wearing the adjar themselves, and are as little |
lndulgent to young ones who are caught without |
it as the jealous husband himself; the reason
being envy in the one and mistrust in the
other. Some of the sex allow one eve only to be
seen. These instead Of the usual adar, draw
their drapery-whch covers them from head to
foot-over the face, leaving a little lie for the
solitary optic to peep through. We have often.
in our rambles IN the county about Algiers, met
with women thus mufiled up-and still more fire.
luenty in outofthe-way places further off who, on
noticing our apparent speculation of the counte-
nance, which offered only one black eve to guide
rs in our copjectures suddenly let the curtain
AL, as they laughiuglv showed us face which
lad no cause to fear being exposed; this was
lone with merry look which seemed to saw.
How do you like it does it please vou?" In
he same way we have seen girls in the Arab
quarter Of Algiers, on arriving at their own
ZONES, take off the adjar on the threshold. to
How single glance, as they closed their
oor on Us, and our curiosity.-AzqeriG as II
$. By George GdskeH.