Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-07-24

Every Friday afternoon, writes cor
respondent, the Arab women visit their
cemetery, and one pleasant day we
availed ourselves of our liberty to go
there during the hours when we would
be s.re to meet them. The cemetery
lies on tho outskirts of the town and is
surrounded by a very high wall, the
gates of which are carefully guarded.
Our first effort to enter the ground was
by gate 1T the farther end. Here we
encountered half n dozen women who
had dropped Their wells. We quickly
saw by the large silk veil aud strings of
real pearls worn by one of tho women
that she belonged to q high rank and
was walking with her attendants. Her
face might once have been pretty, but
now it was gross and inferior; and n
light, vacant expression made it far
from interesting. Finding we were not
on the right route we sought again the
street. and following the'omnibuse, de-
voted to the Arabs, came soon to an
other gate. As the women alighted We
could only see their black eyes under
meath their curious white dr:lpcry On
entering the gate we saw n large num-
Der of MOrcsqne women scattered in
groups over the ground, who were scat
ing themselves among the graves for a
pleasant afternoon. The graves were
marked by pieces of board and a head
stone, beside which were placed two
small cups: these the women filed on
their weekly visits. one with water and
tho other with kOuS-kOus, an Arab
preparation of wheat. These offerings
were supposed to be of some service to
the depar.e ed ones. for no grave was
without them.
In rambling about the old town we
had come upon little schools for boys.
These were small, low rooms, filed
with urchins sitting cross-legged on
mats. and all vigorously singing the
mOnotOnOus chants used in the mosques;
but girl is never taught anything. and
SO rarely did we see one in the streets
that was inclined to believe the re-
ports that poison is administered, not
only to the cd women, but to the super
fluous number of girls. At the cemo-
terry. however, the little girls blossomed
out in all their finery. Spangled caps.
gay sashcs, TUNES of gauzy Algerian
silk. and profusion of bangles evil
IDENTIFY made them happy; but the
mothers faces could hardly be said to
express SO positive an emotion. They
seemed Interested in watching us, but
when we tried to talk with them they
would shake their heads with hope
less expression which was touching to
see. One of our party was fortunate
enough to find a young woman who
could speak little French, and who re-
lated some of her history. At the age
Of fifteen she was married, and thus far
her husband had been SO pleased with
her that he had taken no other wife.
Now she was seventeen. and lived in
constant fear of being suppianted by .
younger and handsOmer woman.
'.Do you think l am prettyP' she in
quired. patheticasly. IL wish l had
blue eyes like you s." A look of relief
her that she really did think her pretty.
In one part Of the ground was gate
leading into y paved courtyard. As
we hesitatesl to enter q Microscope
woman tripped toward US and
offered 10 be our guide. She had
worked IN q French family, and 50
a little Of the language. We
followed her through tho court to
koubba. where, in enc corner 0f alaqge
rOOsn. was the monument Of tho soast,
snd all his descendants hsd tho liberty
If spending their holidays in biz hoi1
asesenee. A Handsome wQwsn oaet6ga