Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-08-11
HOUSES n AloirRa


HOUSES ~ ALoiERA
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The regulation" Arab house IL al.
ways commenced In tho same way.
whatever the shape Of the lot Of ground
is there must be square court, sohe-
times with a fountain in the center.
and colonnade surrounding the court;
in the smallest column. with orna-
mented balustrade between. at each
corner supports on horseshoe arches
the upper story. with repetition Of the
same number of columns and ARCHES
supporting the roof; then rooms Of ev-
cry conceivable shape and to suit the
convenience Of the owner and to make
the best Of every inch Of the lot, are
built around the court, tho doors and
windows. with iron gratings. opening
into it; the outer wall forming = kind
of fortress, with few and very small
windows The Arabs as we'll as the
English. can say that "a mans house
is his castle" In the large country
houses the same rule is observed on q
larger scale. and with more columns,
with avery extensive outer court, en-
closed by long colonnade and wall.
Baia's house was OF the most modest
order. a mere nutshell: court seven
feet by four was converted once week
into an extensive laundry where Fat
ma. jovial and good-notured negress.
was in her element Under the stair
way. just wide enough for one, was a
we'll. next to which was tiny room,
which received light only from the
court. The lame and lonely woman
who occupied it did all her cooking at
the door. and when she was fortunate
enough to afford to fry any thing like q
mutton-chop. I was obliged to leave my
easel for the time being.
Once a week every thing is turned
out. on the acknowledged system. for
thorough house-cleaning; buckets OF
water deluged the tiled floors Of the
court and under the little colonna de.
while mop was used for the bed
rooms. which were also tiled. Wood
is seldom employed in the construction
OF floors. as tiles are cooler in summer.
do not warp, are more ornamental and
cheaper. Her old mother abominated
shoes. and to see her assist in the gen.
cral washing up on cold and rainy
days, going barefooted about the house
on the ch.erless tiles. sent chill to
my very marrow. To acknowledge
and return my sympathy. she ex-
pressed her discomfort at seeing me a,
work in n big overcoat and thick-soled
boots. When went to see our friend
Belkassem at home with his family the
rain was pouring into the open court
OF his dwelling. and his FIVE children
were standing about on their bare feet
like f,rlorn. wet chickens; tho mother,
with babe in her arms. WAS afflicted,
like all her little brood. with sore
eyes.
1t is strange fact that many Of the
natives Of hot countries wear almost
tho same clothing winter and summer
and do not seem to suffer from col,
when the thermometer stands at few
degrees, in the severest weather, above
freezing point. Arab women are al
ways curious to see how European Ia
dies are dressed. and examine atten
lively their clothes and jewelry
II the Europeans show the sam,
interest. and inquire into tn,
dressing Of the natives. the,
often find to their surprise. on cold
days, on lifting the haik Of a Moorish
woman. nothing but gauze chemist
and thin cottof. bodice covering tn,
breasts and very small part Of tn.
back, and from the waist to the feet
cotton p.ntaloons. ample. II Is true,
but not warm. The haiks are often
made OF hand-woven wool. very thick
and warm. others OF silk. while the
poorer classes wear few yards of thin
white cotton stuff. The large haik,
are about eighteen feet long by fiv,
feet wide. With one Of these, will
their vail to the eyes and falling abou
fourteen inches, and with pantaloon
made up of seventeen yards Of whit,
cotton It'd at the waist and ankles, the
reader will have but little difficulty il
understanding how they can concea
their figures and keep themselves warm
But such ample drapery Is comparativ.
luxury. and enjoyed by the wealthy
only. On the other hand. one pitie,
them in hot weather for being obligct
to wear the vail and follow the fashion
among the ladies Of their standing oil
bnr,lening their frames with such
weight Of apparel.
With all this drapery the women
husbands and acquaintances readil,
recognize them by their bearing and
gait; but one can form no idea, or
very inacc.rate one. OF a woman from
what the exterior forms suggest. -
A. Bridgman. in Harper's Magazine.
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