San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-18
GLI,IpSEs OF MOROCCO.
ixtrasts Fran a Review o. a ronr 10 Morocco BY
~ Rnmondo 10 amIeis. r.

OF course the domestic hfe OF Tn,
Fee people was sealed book TO Tn
Italian tourist, with the exception o
such glimpses as he could obtain q
formal receptions and the ceremoniou
breakfasts and dinners 10 which sth'
embassy were invited. AS regards TIT
feminine moiety of the population, HI
| observations were necessarily yer,
limited. He saw some slave women
however, nj the Grand Viziers, and ont
day, having mounted to the hat roof o
the building where he lodged, he de
scribed Moorish beauty summing her
self on an adjoining terrace. The hrs
experience is thus described:
While the Grand Vizier was talking
Mr.. De Amicis, seated in the doorway
was looking a la Bunthrone ont OF the
corners of his eyes at the slave women
who, little by little, and encouraged by
his air of benign curiosity, had drawn
near, unseen by the Vizier, so that they
could almost touch him. There they
stood, looking and being looked at with
certain complacency. There were
eight of them, we are told, fine girls Of
from 10 to 20 years of age; some mulat
toes, some black, with large eyes, d,
lated nostrils, and full bosoms, all
dressed in white, with very broad en-
broidered girdles; arms and feet bare,
bracelets on their wrists, great silver
rings in their ears, thick silver anklets.
Mr.. De Amicis got an impression that
these comedy Moslems would not scruple
very much to have their cheeks pinched
by a christian hand. A member OF the
embassy pointed out to our traveller the
beautiful foot of one of them; she no
ticed it, and began to examine her own
foot with much curiosity. All the
others did the same, comparing their
own feet with hers. Then one of the
visitors "fred off" his opera hat; they
drew back, then smiled, and fiuttered
near again. Presently, however, the
Vizier's voice, ordering the table to be
prepared, sent them flying. uG aj,.I
The terrace adventure of our inqui-
sitive Italian is also worth recounting.
One day the chief custodian of the
palace assigned to the Italian Embassy
gave him secretly the key of the terrace
or flat roof, recommending him, how
ever, to be prudent, because the terra
ces in Fee, as in other cities of Moroc-
CO, belong to the women, and are con-
sidered almost as appendages of the
harem. Mr.. De Amicis went up to the
roof, which he found very spacious and
completely surrounded by a parapet
higher than man, having few loop
holes for windows. Peering through
these loop-holes, you seemed to see into
another world. On the terraces far and
near, were women, q greater part OF
whom, judged by their dress, were in
easy circumstances-ladies, indeed, SO
far as the title is at all appropriate in
Morocco. A few were seated upon the
parapets. some walking about, some
jumping with the agility of squirrels
from one terrace to another, hiding,
reappearing, and throwing water in
each others faces, laughing merrily.
There we're old women and young,
little girls of eight or ten, all dressed
in garments of the strangest cut and
the most brilliant colors. Most of them
had their hair falling over their should
ers, a red or green silk handkerchief
tied round the head in band, sort
of caftan of different hues with wide
sleeves, bound round the waist with
blue or crimson sash, velvet jacket
open at the breast, wide trousers, vel
low slippers, and large silver rings
about the ankle. The slaves and child
rem had nothing on buta chemise; only
one of these ladies was near enough
for Mr.. De Amicis to see her features.
She was woman of about 30, dressed
in gala attire, and standing on terrace
but cats Jump below his own. She
was looking down in to a garden, leaning
her head upon her hand. "We looked
at her." says our author, with glass.
Heavens, what a pictured Eyes dark
ened with antimony, cheeks painted
red, throat painted white, nails stained
with henna, but handsome despite her
80 wears, with full face and almond
shaped eyes, languid, and yelled by
long lashes; the nose little turned up;
a small, round mouth, as the Moorish
poet says, like ring; and sylph-like
figure, whose soft and curving lines
we're revealed by the diaphanous
texture of her dress" She seemed
sad. Perhaps some fourth bride of II
had lately entered the harem and stolen
her husbands caresses. From time to
time we are told, she glanced at her
hand, her arm, a tress of hair that fell
over her bosom, and sighed. The
sound of our travellers voice speaking
to companion suddenly reused her;
she looked up, saw they were observing
her. jumped over the parapet of the
terrace with the agility of an acrobat,
md vanished.
Sun storms and AurOraS.