Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-29

tlst fancy. They never see in their
own homes any males but tLeir husbands
and children. The climate, like that Of
Cuba in winter, and excessively hot from
May until October, has also much to do
with this. There are are really but
two garments for everyday home wear.
One is gauze chemise through which
the olive-hued form is wholly revealed in
outline and detail. The other is the
wide, ample trousers, terminating just
below the knees and almost as fieecy and
gauzy in effect. The lowlier women are
bare legged, bare footed and bare headed
at home. Wives of the weather. Arabs
will don pink, yellow or blue gauze
silk hose, and dainty yellow ba-
pouches or slippers. Their hair will be
coiled in a simple Greuian knot and fas-
tened 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 bedecked
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, encircle their necks. The rich
are ablaze with jewels principally pearls,
emeralds and sapphires, badly set but
always genuine and of great value.
There is legend in Algiers that the hid
den riches of the wealthier Arabs, prin-
oipally comprising Jewels, exceeds the
sum total in value of all coin, plate and
Jewels otherwise possessed by all nation
alities in the ''white city
OF the more than one hundred mosques
which formerly existed in the city OF AL
giers, only five now remain. The most
interesting of these are Djamaa ell K bir
hp in - do l. No
rine, Djamaa el-Djedid, or the Fisher
place Mosque, also in the Rue de la Ma
rine, and the enchanting little mosque of
Djamaa Sidi RRmdan, overlooking the
garden of Marengo and taking its name
from the marabout, or Mahometan priest
of most veuerated memory, Sidi ABIDE
Rhaman, who died in l47I aud is inferred
here within an inner sacred chapel or
khouba, surrounded by several pachas
and deys. Two distinct and Jealous
sects, the MalekI rite and the Haneh
rite, worship respectively at the Grand
mosque and the Fisher-place mosque;
while al the Sidi mosque all are on COM
mon ground; it Is the shrine of the more
aristocratio Moslems; aud on certain
days of the week il is througed with men
and women, the latter, from an old and
lax custom, predOminating. Indeed it is
at this little mosque, if reverence is as
sumed and discretion eS erUised that one
will secure more glimpses of Arab women
Of the finer type than offered by all
other possible opportunities in Algiers.
The Grand Mosque dates from the EIev-
enth century. From the Rue de la Ma
rine it presents q facade of splendid white
marble columns. They support an ar
cade, in the center of which Is tremen-
dous fountain, for all MOslems perform
extraordinary additions before entering
for worship. The interior, as with all
mosques, is extremely plain. Stately
monumental pillars, supporting the uni
yersal Moorish arch, provide numerous
series of arcades. A few inexpensive
lamps are supported from the -oof. The
pulpit is plain, aud the gallery attached
10 il is of the severest pattern. A little
niche, without oTuameutation, is set into
the wall, called the mihrab, which is
found in all mosques and indicates the
East, the direction of the sacred Mecca.
MRttngs are hung about all columns and
the side walls, lest they suffer detilement
at the touch of the saUreigious Chris
tan. The one sumptuous thing to be
seen is IN carpeting. The floor is COM
pletely covered with the richest Of old
Moorish carpets. For no MoSlem, and
no Christian, unless he have no sense of
regard for cherished religious custom and
tradition, will ever enter one OF these
edIfces without first removing his SAN
dals or shoes. TIE windows are invari-
ably small, set high in the walls, col
ored, and the effect of the dim, sub
dued light and the peculiar eastern in
ceuss is exceedingly impressive. Under
the same roof is the highest Algerian
court of the Algerian Mussulmen, the
superior tribunal of the Muphti, TO which
appeals are frequently taken from the
lower court of the Cadi; for il has been
the wise policy of the French provincial
rule in Algeria, to foster aud preserve
ell Mahommedan customs, religion and
institutions not positively inimicai to
French civil law.
The fisher place mosque, IS one OF the
most striking buildings in Algers, as
you approach the city from the Medter-
ranean. 1t has lofty central dome. a
smaller dome at each of the four corners,
and, at the northwest side a lofty and
graceful minaret. It is whitewashed to
a dazzling whiteness, and looms high
and solemn over all other structures in
this quarter. where the line between old
and new Algiers is so closely defined.
Near it is the Pecherie or tsh market,
from whence the mosque derives Its
name, and ct all times of day and night
enc will come upon the swarthy toilers
of the ssa, wild and haif-naked set of
splendid fellows, who, in weird looks
and strange customs, are the almost eX-
act prototypes of the oriental peScadores
who will be found around the old Cathe-
dral square and the crumbling Bouquete
walls opposite MOro's frowning parapets
at Havana. The severity of the interior
of this mosque is even more marked than
that OF the Grand mosque in the Rue de
la Marine. The columns are draped
with mating, the floors are protected
by mating, and the gallery of open
wood work is covered with a somber
coat of paint. All the windows are tiny
and high. The devotion of its worship
ers ana the solemnity and quiet of the
place are something worthy of Christian
people 8 attention. At the lett of this
mosque, if the visitor will ascend the
steps aud enter a little door, always
standing open in the day time, there will
be found a curious court attachment
Nearly a half dozen turbaned Arabs are
seated cross-legged upon q rug of mat
ting. They are silent, grave, myster-
ious About them are scattered a score