The Helena independent., 1890-03-30

oelow the knees, and almost as leecy and
gauzy in effect. The lowlier women are
bare-legged, bare footed and bare-headed,
at home. Wives Of the wealthier
Arabs will don pink, yellow or blue
gauze silk hose and dainty yellow
babouches, or slippers. Their hair
will be coiled in a simple Grecian knot and
fastened with some huge jeweled ornament,
and perhaps tiny skull cap, richly en-
broidered will rest coquettishly on one side
Of the head. But all are bedeckod with
jewelry. The poorer are fond of FURNISHED
copper bands about the arms, wrists and
ankles, or brilliant quartz and glass cubes
and crystals strung on pack thread encrclc
their necks. The rich are ahla2e with jew
els, principally pearls, emernlds and sap
phlres, badly set. but always genuine and
of great value. There is legend in Algiers
that the hidden riches OF the wcalthler
Arnbs. principally comprising jewels, eX-
cpedS the sum total in value of all COIN.
plnte and Jewels otherwise possessed by all
nationnlties in the ''wlitv city"
OF tho more than one hundred mosques
which formerly existed in the city of Al
glers, only five now remain. The most in
tcrcsting of these are Djamaa cl-kebir, tue
grand mosque. in Rue de Ia Marine, Dia-
man el-Diedid. or the Fisher-place mosque,
also IN the Rue de In Marine, and the en-
chanting little mosque of Dinmaa hldi
kumdnn, overlooking the garden of MHren-
90, aud taking It's name from the marnbOut.
or Muhammcdan priest of most yeuerated
memory, Sidi Abd-el- -RhamRn. who dind in
li7l and is inferred here within an
inner sacred chupcl or khouba. sur
rounded by several pachas md
dpyS. Two distinct and zeal
ous sects the Maloki rite. and the Haneti
rite, worship respectively at the Grand
Mosque and the Fisher-puce Mosque; while
az the Sldl Mosque all ARE ON common
ground; It is the shrine Of the more arisio-
cratic Moslems; and on certain DAYS Of the
week il is thronged with men and women.
the latter from aii old and lax custom. pre-
dominating. Indeed, IL is at this little
mosque. II reverence IS assumed and dis
cretiOn exercised. thnt one will secure more
glimpses Of Arab women of the finer type
thgn offered by all other possible opp0rtuui-
ties in Algiers. The Grand Mosque dntes
from the eleventh century, From the Rue
de- In Marine IL presents n facade OF splen-
did white marble columns. These support
an nrcadC, IN the center Of which Is tre-
mendous fountain. Before all mosques
stands the fountain, for all Moslems per
form extraordinary ablutlons before enter
ing for worship. The interior, AZ with all
mosques, is extremely plain. Stately mon
umeuta pillars. supporting the universal
MortsQuc arch. provide numerous ssries Of
arcudts, 4 few inexpensive lamps are sup
ported from the roof. The pulpit is PLAIN.
aud the gallery attached 90 II is
OF the seye,ost pattern. A liitlC
nlchC. without oruumrnt0tion. is set into
the wall chilled the mlhrHh, which is found
IN all mosques. and indicated the east. the
direction Of the sacred Mecca. Mattlngs
are hang about all columns and the side
walls. lest they snfler dehlcmelt No the
touch Of sacriegious Christian. The one
sumptuuus thing to be seen Is ia carpeting.
Tho ilour Is completely covered with the
richrsi of old Moorish carpets. For 10
M1slcm. and no Christian unless he have
no sense of regard for cherished
religious custom and tradition,
will ever enter one OF these cdihces without
first removing his sandals or shoes, The
windows are invariably small, sct high in
the wnlls. cOlored, and tho effect of the dim
subducd light and the peculiar eastern in'
ceusc. is exceedingly Impressive. Under the
same roof is the highest Algerian court OF
the Algerian Mussulinen. the superior iriha'
nal of the Muphti. 10 which appeals Are ire
quently taken from the lower court OF The
Cadi; for it has been the wise policy OF the
French provincial rule IN Algerin, % fosiel
and preserve MI Mohammedan customs, re-
ligiou and institutions, not positively mim
ical TO French civil law.
The Fisher place Mosque is one OF thl
most striking buildings in Algiers, as Nol
| approach the city from this Mediterranean
! II has a lofty central dome, a smaller dom