Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-05-20
ALGERIAN ARABS.
Some of Their Singular Customs and Pc
culiarlties of Speech.

Some of Their Singular Customs and Pc
cuIiarItIes of Speech.
have never seen the Arabs in greater
force than at Milianah, Algeria, writes
q traveller in that country. A few words
of Arabic carry a man a long way
among these people. 1t is remarkable
in what variety of ways single word
will do duty. 1t is not so much, how
ever, the words as the usages that help
the European along.
/ go to an Arab coffee-house at Milia-
nah. | am received with stately dig
nifty and politeness which is never
wanting, and which Europeans can
only family reproduce. My friend
makes a favorable impression by al
ways wearing a fez cap and an outer
garment, which is an approximation to
the burnouse. In the cafe we either
sit OF squat, squatting being perhaps
preferable. All the draught-playing
(for their dahmey is very like draughts)
is done squatting. 1t is considered the
correct thing to offer each person pres
ent cup of coffee. 1t is only two sous
a cup, and to my taste the coffee was
too thick, but l am assured that it is
excellent. Then each of the Arabs de-
sires you to accept a cup Of coffee from
him, but unless you are an intense
lover of coffee you aust put limit to
this hospitality.
Ny friend says that if he is lost at
night among the hills, which is very
easily done, and where there Is always
chance of snakes and scorpions, it is
cheering to see the light of an Arab
tent, where he may be sure Of rest and
security. He has wandered about with
them In their tents for six weeks at d
time. have sometimes made q visit to
an Arab gourbi, but find 1t 2 great
deal too close and confined. In fact,
they all live in the open, and only need
some place to creep into for the night.
Near Milianah, and in the towns
generally, there are Q number of Arabs
who are getting distinctly Prenehified.
They have got hold of a great many
words of the language; their women,
instead of only showing their eyes
through gimlet-hOles, have their faces
open like the Franks; the men, con-
trary to the injunction of the prophet,
will take stronk drink, and will even
partake of pork If they are hungry and
1t comes in their way.
know q gourbi where / am always
welcome If take English ladies with
me. The pretty Arab wife will squat
on the floor. ltindle fire, and with in
credible swiftness make cake for us.
She is very finely dressed, and will re-
joice in present of colored handker-
chief or any cheap bit of gaudiness.
The husband prefers solid francs. He
bought his pretty wife iOr about $40,
and she is considered cheap at the price.
He is at liberty to have three other
wives If he can only afford it. He con-
siders that discipline must be main
tanned, and administers thrashings
freely.
met with every possible variety Of
Arab. They are always courteous, and
generally healthy and handsome. Some
seem very rich, sumptuously dressed,
riding on horseback or in carriages.
They appear at table d'hotes and
salons, and hold their own in a most
imposing way. Some are "as poor as
rats" often living on penny day.
They all smoke, tobacco being cheap
and abundant, and also good. The
smallest Arab gamin will ask you for a
bit of paper, and presently for some to-
bacco; he will then roll up a cigarette
and ask for a light.-N. Y. Journal.