The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-27
SOCIETY MANNERS OF MOORS
SOME POLITE PHRASES OF GREET
ING.
Conversation With Proverbs and Koran
Qu0tatiOns-Sincertt of the MoOrs In
Their Greetings Is Questioned.

Their Greetings Is Questioned.
In contrast to some northern nations,
1t is hardly too much to say that the
of whatever class is born gentleman.
There is such a grace about the hum
blest, such an easy dignity, that
whenever circumstances place them in
positions calling for the exercise of
courtesy, they very seldom fail to re-
spond, and thus it comes to pass that
in democratic nation, in which every
man of ability-cunning, perhaps,
would be the better word-may rise to
the highest place, even though he
start life as a slave, the self-proclaim-
| ing parvenu Isl practically non-exist-
ent. This is not, however, to imply
that gaucherie and the unpleasant
dispositions or stupidity are unknown.
Unfortunately, the life led by the aver
age Moor is one that dwarfs refinement
of intellect, as it does development of
mind, and the vices to which the ma
joritiy succumb in early life too often
| stulify the most prominent commence
ment. Probably much of the graceful
Difference of the young Moors is due
to the respect they are taught to pay
to their elders, but something also
must be due to their unconstrained life
and limbs and their ample costumes,
while their very slowness of action
takes an air of dignity.
1t is pretty sight to see two elderly,
dignified Moors salute. With measur-
ed pace, the eyes of each fixed on
those of the other. they approach with
a light inclination holding the right
hands slightly advanced. They press
their finger tips together, and COM
mence a volley of prescribed saluta-
tions, greetings, and inquiries, hardly
pausing to insert replies, and calculate
| God be praised!" Then each presses
the finger tips which hare been honor
ed by contact with those of his friend
against his lips, and then upon his
! heart, as he raises his head, and re-
doubles his salutations.
To every fellow Muslin the greeting
is given, "Es-sa alaikum' ("Peace
be unto you'o. To which the answer is
'.Wa alaikum es-salam ("And to Won
he neace'l n, the the unbeliever the
nearest annroach ia This nermitted is
Gala salam, TAXI (On thy peace,)
which might mean ANYTHING The wav
to sneed tbe nartiny euest is ~ exclairn
"iGod give thee neacet" or more curt-
". ..In peace." To those whose pres
ence has never been desired ii is rsual
tn exclair in tones sufficiently exnlicit
sAIlah ihann- akl" (.Good protect
tbeen on arrival if ID customary ~
exclaim to the guest welcome Ia
tbeep, ar ..Marhabban ahlan wa sab.
Ian" f'Re welcome. At home, and al
ease,, Courteous interroeatories fall
thick and fast. .How are thou? Thy
house?,-the nearest approach permit
ted to inquiry after a mans wife
.srpby relatives What newse Is moth
ING wrongq,, To which he repIies. II
there is nothing specially to complain
| of GAN right thank Cod All are in
prosperitvn "Or If had news has tc
he ,,iven Coed knows. everything is ir
the hands Of Cod,
When a Muslin rneets E,uronear
accountant Nv arr Moor though the
la+ter he tba servant he not infra.
nnant1y ionorae inc nresanca of +he
foraionier and offers the sanitation +,
h;s "a ra1;eionist onlv. hnt If he ma sses
no;xad comnanv of Moors and Jews q,
Christians he exclaims peace he or
Tho neonle of T,sla,n,r,, RI two s,,cr
nar+ias moot an tba road the nbrase ;s
spaaca ha ia those aoco,nnanvine the
lows" ar "tha Nazarenes and it is
j sufficient for ono az eacb nartv ia give
ana ratnr, Aha oreetirg thoueb in m,
|, co,,,,+,.,, sa,,e,,o1 of4ap A. so inferior.
salutinc suneriors us,,arv kiss tn,
band sho,lder ton IF the tnrhan q,
roa+ -, the rnee ar stirr,,n Of a borse
man acoordinoe ia the terms IN which
thew annroach The more abiect form.
AFRO naturallv onlv used to imnlore ;
favor tbo,,ph thew are eonloved some
; tires to Euroneans In the extremity,
of s,,nnl;cation tho very feet of one,,
bn,,eo ara an,braned
The old custom ~ falling on ono an.
o+bar,s oac1rs is Gin in voene hatwae,
f,ioras 1oro senara+ed Mon and wa
NOR, restrict thair ereet;nos in nuhli,
to words hut nersonallv + was some
What s+ort1ad hv tbe sudden ar,hrac,
af q ,oaraes whose fraedono INV fatbe
had boen +hx, means of ohtainino wbe,