Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-01-18
AN ARABIAN MEAL.
rho Table Etiquette and vianCs Served
in m Oriental Palace.


We had two meals day. About
nine II. m. we all met in the great
saloon to kiss our fathers hands AS
n rule our brothers ana nephews, even
those who were married and who live
out OF the house, shared our breakfast
duringthc time our father lived in
town with us, The dishes were all ar
ranged and placed by the ounuchs on
the long sefra (dining-table). This
sefra is made OF wood, aud looked
somewhat like billiard-table, only
ours was twice as long, a little wider,
and about three inches high, with
ledge of about u hands's breadth run
ming round its sides. We do not have
separate dInining-rooms, and the scfra
is carried into tho gallery at meal
times. Though wO 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 more for show, however,
than for actual use) wo took our meals
after the Eastern fashion, aud sat down
on the floor upon carpets and mats.
Precedence was strictly observed at
tho table. My father always took his
place at the upper end of the sefrai
next to hiL., 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 taxi
ing people in TO dinner is not prac-
ticed.
There is always n great variety oil
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 ounuchs 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 me sit in place
where he could reach my plate. We
had the same food as the grown-up
people; but II was always a 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 undortone. but quite
audibly: I'm the namo OF the merciful
Lord. aud 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 tho
various dishes (with Che exception OF
rice) were served up in small plates,
symmotrically arranged along the
scfra, and two people could always eat
out OF one plate. Drinks werenot taken
at meals, but aftor them shsrbet or
sugared water was handed round.
There was no talking unless some one
was specially addressed by father; the
greatest silence prevailed, which was
very pleasant. Neither flowers or fruit
were placed on the sefra. Shortly be-
fore and after each meal male and fe-
malo slaves, smartly dressed, handed
round basins to wash our hands. As q
rule we used our fingers TO eat
with-kniyes and forks were
deemed superlluous, and they were
used only when European guests were
entertained. Meats aud 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 tho
viands. Fruit was never taken at
meals, but either before or some time
after. Each person had n certain
quantity of the kinds In season sent ia
her rooms. Half an hour after break.
fast and dinner coffee was served by
eunuchs in those well-known little
Oriental cups in gold or silver cast
ings. The coffee is very strong, boiled
down TO sirup. and filtered quite clear.
II is taken without sugar or milk, aud
nothing is eaten with il except per'
haps. u very hnoly-choppod ''nroka
nut Tho scond and last meal is taken
every afternoon at four o'clock pre-
cisely, and nothing moro is served
after the same until breakfast the mex
morning. = Memoirs of an Ardbia'
| pyiUrFsg