The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-11-10
AN ARABIAN MEAL.
The Table Etiquette and vands served
in nn Oriental Palace.

in an Oriental Palace.
We had two meals u day. About
nine a. IN. wo all met in tho great
saloon to kiss our fathers hands. AS
a rule our brothers and nephews, even
| those who were married and who live
out of the house, shared our breakfast
during the tine our father lived in
| town with us. The dishes were all ar
ranged and placed by the eunuchs on
the long sefra (dining-table). This
sefra is made OF wood, and looked
somewhat like a billard-table, only
ours was twice as long, a little wider,
and about three inches high, with u
ledge of about u hauds's breadth rum
ming round its Sides We do not have
separate dlnining-rooms, and the sefra
is carried into the gallery at meal
times. Though we had some
foreign furniture, such as couches,
tables and chairs. and sometimes ward
robes (my fathers apartment contained
great deal OF European furniture,
which was moro for show, however,
than for actual uso) we took our meals
| after the Eastern fashion, and sat down
on the floor upon carpets and mats
Precedence was strictly observed at
the table. My father always took his
place at the upper end of the sefra;
next to hir., on his right and left, sat
my older brothers and sisters, and the
little ones (about seven years) took
the lower seats. The fashion of talk
ing people in to dinner is not prac-
ticed.
There is always great variety of
viands. often as many as fifteen dishes,
rice dressed in many ways. Of meat
and poultry, mutton and fowl were
liked most. There was fish besides,
and Eastern bread, and all kinds of
sweets and dainties. As all the dishes
are placed on the table beforehand,
there is no attendance required; nu-
merous eunuchs stand at some distance,
drawn up in line TO carry our special
orders. Their services were mostly
required by my father. who would
send in portions to the smaller chill
dren who were not yet admitted to
table, or TO sick people. AT Bet il
Mtoni he used to make rae sit in place
where he could reach my plate. We
had the same food as the grown-up
people; but it was always Il pleasure to
us to have our dishes selected by him,
and he himself greatly enjoyed doing
so.
On sitting down to the table every
one said in an uldortone, but quite
audibly: "ln the name OF The merciful
Lord, and on rising: Thanked be the
Lord of the universe" My father al
ways sat down and rose first. Clean
plates were not handed to each person,
as is the custom in Europe, but the
various dishes (with the exception of
rice) were served up in small plates,
symmetrically arranged along the
sefra, and two people could always eat
out of one plate. Drinks we're not taken
at meals, but after them sherbet or
sugared water was handed round.
There was no talking unless some one
was specially Addressed by 'ataer; the
greatest silence prevailed. which was
very pleasant. Neither Gowers or fruit
were placed on the sefra. Shortly be-
fore and after each meal male and fe-
male slaves, smartly dressed, handed
round basins to wash our hands. As Il
rule we used our fingers to eat
with-knives and forks were
deemed supernuou5, and they were
used only when European guests were
entertained. Meats and fish were
chopped up small beforehand, and we
had spoons for all liquids. The upper
classes perfume their hands after the
washing to remove any traces of the
viands. Fruit was never taken at
meals, but either before or some time
after. Each person had certain
quantity of the kinds in season sent to
her rooms. Half an hour after break
fast and dinner coffee WINS served by
eunuchs in those wcll-lnown little
Oriental cups in gold or silver cast
ings. The coffee is very strong, boiled
down TO sirup, and filtered quite clear.
1t is taken without sugar or milk, and
nothing is eaten with it except, per-
haps. very iinely-chopped "areka'
nut. The scond and last meal is taken
every afternoon at four O'Clock pre-
cisely, and nothing more is served
after the same until breakfast the next
morning. - McmoirS Of an 4Ara6ian
Princess.