Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-05-04
AMONG THE ARABS.
Manners and Customs in TripOli,
Barbary.
Cor Philadelphia Ledger.

Cor. PhIladelphis Ledger.l
This old part of the world is so very
different from the United States or Eu-
rope, and the country is far behind in
civilization and in every thing that goes
to make country great or its people
happy as the country is old. The Re
gency of Tripoli is about the size OF
Spain and Portugal, and large portion
of the country is a sandy desert, desti-
tute of timber and running water; but
a considerable portion of the country is
well adapted for agricultural pursuits.
Grain grows well; oranges. figs, lemons,
dates, melons and vegetables grow to
perfection when cultivated, but the
Arabs are lazy, and get on with as little
work as possible. Many of the people
have no place of residence, in the inte-
rior and on the desert, but wander day
after day, year after year, moving their
focks and herds with them wherever
they 60, tenting when and wherever
night may oyertake them. Their entire
effects are carried on camsls, and their
food consists almost entirely of dates
and the milk they get from their flOcks,
never tasting bread and seldom meat.
They exchange tiger and other skins for
guns, powder, Sc, and some of the
tribes, the Tuarick more particularly,
collect and exchange ostrich feathers
with the traders. In the towns, villages
and along the sea coast many live in
houses and tents, and reside permanent
ly in one place. The country was seized
by Turkey in 1887. Since that time the
Regency has been governed, or rather
ruled, by Governor General and Sc
lect Council, assisted by Department
Governors and Sheiks in the different
tewns and villages. The Governor Cen
eral is appointed by the Sublime Porte
and removed at the will of the same au-
thority, which is unhesitatingIy execu-
ted. lntrigues are the order of the day,
and the Governor General seldom re-
mains in Office uIore than six or eight
months at time. The Turks have done
nothing for the people since they seized
the country but Oppress and corrupt the
Arabs, and the wild man of the Desert
is quite willing to be corrupted, as he
does not care to work.
The Arabs are daring, cunning and
revengeful (are said to be generousJ,
tall, slender, as rule muscular, active
and graceful in their movements, have
small feet and hands, good features
dark eyes and fine teeth. Their costumes
consist of loose shirt and drawers, red
cap, sandals or slippers, large blanket
or shawl wrapped around the body, one
end thrown over the left shoulder and
hanging down the back. The women
dress very much like the men. The
styles of dress of all classes are the
same; of course the richer the person the
more costly goods they wear.
Most of the women tattoo; the old
women dye their hair a dull red color
and frizzle and pull it down over their
faces. Nothing can be more hideouSy
ugly than an Arab woman; but l can
not imagine anything more beautiful
than a young Arab girl, say from Is to
16 years of age, and who has been
brought up in the same house. They
have beautiful forms, small feet and
hands, large black eyes, round chin,
small rosy lips, white teeth and very
smooth, good complexion. They wear
their hair plated and thrown back to
hang down over their shoulders and
back. They soon fade, however, and be-
come as ugly as they were before beauti-
full. In towns the women cover their
faces when on the street in the sight of
men, but they like to have Christians
see them, and will uncover their faces
if no MussHlman is looking.