The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-05-01
Tastes and Virtues Of the Moors.

The Tunisian correspondent of the
London Globe writes: The Moors may be
described as the semi-civilized town.
Arab. The Arab, or BedOuin, who in
habits the country is lean and meagre,
without an ounce of superfuous flesh.
His far-seeing eyes are black. sparkling
in a nest of wrinkles under the bony,
contracted eyebrow. His nose is we'll
shaped and thin; his lips are colorless
and pursed up, as if with perpetual ST.
lence, but when they are parted the
glimpse of the dazzling white teeth under
the coarse, black mustache, added to the
accompanying twinkle of the eye, renders
his smile very charming. The Bedouin
woman, when one rarely catches sight
of her features, seems to be pretty, when
young, for she has the most lovely eyes,
shaded with long lashes; butt fancy her
features are rather fiat, and she has an
ugly habit of tatooing her face.
The physiognomy of the Moor is rath-
er different. His complexion is much
fairer than Of the sun-burnt Arab. Occa-
sionally his hair and mustache are quite
blonde, and blue and gray eyes are far
from uncommon. The Moors of Tunis
are less fanatical and more susceptible to
European influence than their brethren
in Morocco and even Algiers. They are
rather superstitious-as, for instance,
they object to be painted or photographed
for fear that you will use the counterfeit
for the purpose of sorcery-but after all,
so are most of the people inhabiting the
Mediterranean basin. They are Clearly
in their persons and their houses (their
nails are always kept close and clean,
and contrast pleasantly with the dirty
claws of the 1ndians); they are kindly
and hospitable, suaye, polite, and In their
own funny way, very intelligent.
1t is unfortunately true. however, that
they are very ignorant and self-sufficient.
II you attempt to instruct them on any
topic they simply do not believe you,
and think, moreover, that you show very
bad taste in pretending to know more
than they do. Despite their objection to
being individually reproduced on paper
or by the camera, they show childish
fondness for pictorial representations. /.
went one day to the house of an Arab of
high birth and distinction here. He had
a charming patio with orange trees and
an inlaid marble floor; he had beautiful
specimens of Moorish filigree work and
Arab decorations full of rich color; but
it was not these he had brought me to
see. Hung up on the walls were two
rival advertisements of Peak Frean's
and Huntley & Palmer's biscuits. 1t
was before these Mashe stopped with
pride. He revealed in the steep perspec-
tive, the countless chimneys vomiting
forth smoke; he pointed out with glee
the carts in the streets bearing the names
Of the great biscuit manufacturers so dis
tinctly written, and he followed with his
finger the trains which bore away in all
directions the world-famed productions
Of Reading. Some far-seeing Maltese
had given him these gaudy cards and
thereby gained his custom.
The frugality of the Arabs is too well
known to need much description. Bread
and oil form the chief articles of diet.
A greasy sort Of pancake is one of their
greatest luxuries. Oranges, dates and
most sorts of fruit are eaten largely.
Game they never touch, and mutton and
poultry are almost the only forms of
meat they indulge in. They are kind to
heir wives and children, fairly thought
Iul to their animals, and, in their own
peculiar way, very honest. They love
% cheat you in bargain, and will think
t excusable to give you wrong change;
but the true Arab rarely steals. The Sc
,urity of life and property outside the
own is wonderful. cannot say much
lbout their veracity, for they simply do
lot know the difference between false
rood and truth; but / think / have
a sufficient number of virtues
n the character of the Tunisian Arab to
cad us to hope that this race will one