The times., 1898-06-26
QUAINT MOORISH CUSTOMS.
Elaborate Social Courtesy EXchnnS-
ed I'm Everyday Life.

.
ed I'm Everyday Life.
New York, June 25.--In contrast to some
Northern nations. itFis hardly too much
to say that the. Moor. of whatever class,
is born a gentleman. There is such a |
grace about the humblest. such an easy |
dignity. that whenever circumstances |
place them In positions calling for the
exercise of courtesy. they very seldom
fail to respond. and thus 1t comes to pass
that in a democratic nation. in which ey-
cry 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-proclaiming parvenu
is practically non-existent. This Is not.
however, to imply that gaucherie and the
unpleasant manners which come from
evil dispositions or stupidity are IN
known. Unfortunately, the life led by
the average Moor is one that dwarfs re-
finement of intellect. as it does develop
ment of mind and the vices to which the
majority succumb in early life too often
stultify the most prominent commence
ment. Probably much of the graceful
deference 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 a pretty sight to see two elderly.
dignified Moors salute. With measured
pace, the eyes of each fixed on those of
the other, they approach with a slight in
cltnation, holding the right hands slightly
advanced. They press their finger-tios
together and begin a volley Of prescribed
salutations. greetings. and inquiries.
hardly pausing to insert replies, and ejac-
ulate. God be praised!" Then each
presses the finger-tips. which have been
honored by contact with those of his
friend against his lips. and then upon his
heart. as he raises his head. and redou-
bles his salutations.
To every fellow Moslem the greeting is
given "Es-saiam alaikum' (''Peace be
unto you'). To which the answer is IVA
alaikum es-salam" (-And TO you be
peace'). To the unbeliever the nearest
approach to this permitted is Asa salam'
TAX" con thy peace''). which might mean
anything. The way to speed the parting
guest is 10 exciaim. God give thee
peace" or. more curtly, I'm peace" To
those whose presence has never been de-
sired 1t is usual to exclaim in tones suf-
ficienty explicit Allah ihaun-ak!" ('God
protect thee|D. On arrival II is custom
airy to eXclaim TO the guest, Welcome to
theei" or "Marhabban, ahlan wa sahlan"
C'Be welcome, at home. and at ease')
Courteous interrogatories fall thick and
fast. How art thou? Thy house?'-
the nearest approach permitted to in
quiry after a mans wife--'Thy relatives?
What news? Is nothing wrong?" To
which he replies, if there is nothing spe-
cially 10 complain Of ''All right. thank
God. All are in prosperity" Or. If bad
news has TO be given, God knows; every
thing is in the hand of Cod
When a Moslem meets European ac-
companied by a Moor, though the latter
be the servant, he not infrequently ig-
nores the presence OF the foreigner, and
offers the saluta;ioh of mis- cO-rengionlsC
only; but if he passes mixed company
of Moor5 and Jews or Christians he eX-
claims. Peace be on the people of
Tsia' M If two such parties meet on
the road the phrase Is. Peace be 10 those
accompanying the Jews" or the Nazar-
enes," and 1t is sufficient for one of each
party to give and return the greeting
though in the country several often do
so. Interiors saiuting superiors usually
kiss the hand. shoulder. top of the tur-
! ban, or feet. or the knee or stirrup of
| horseman. according to the terms on
! which they approach. The more abject
| forms naturally only used to impiore
! a favor, though they are employed some
| time to Europeans. In the extremity of
supplications the very feet of ones horse
! are embraced.
The old custom of falling on one anoth-
er's necks is still in vogue between friends
/ long separated. Men and women restrict
| their greetings in public to words, but
! personally, ! was somewhat startled by
| the sudden embrace of a negress whose
| freedom my father had been the means
! g 70 hs.
try after some years absence The Kisses
| on such occasions are. however. fortu-
| nately delivered in the air or on the shoul-
! der. 1t is customary TO exclaim at such
meetings, Il have been desolated for
| theei'
| To Judge from the EXPLANATIONS ever on
! the tongues of the Moors. they might be
an extremely pious people. and no doubt
| there are among them those who really
| mean what they say. but generally the
| most religious phrases have degenerated
| into vain repetition. Elaborate curses fall
| almost as freely
When about TO repeat some part of the
Koran. or a prayer, the petition is COM
monty uttered, AZ take refuge with God
from Satan. the stoned" and when any
| thing great or alarming occurs. they eX-
| claim, There is neither chance nor pow
er. save in God. the High. the Mighty"
| Quotations from the Koran are also free
| fy introduced IN conversation by the
| learned, as are proverbs and sayings by
the generality of Moors. knowledge of
which is a great help in conversation.
Several little social usages of Moorish
| life deserve attention. though not con-
/ fined to Morocco such as the exclama-
! ton to one who sneezes. The forgiveness
| of God be on me and on theei" to which
| the reply is. Justice and praise to Godn'
| If man who yawns in public does not
use the prescribed formula. anyone speak
| ing to him may place the back of his
! hand to his mouth, uttering a pious SEN
| tence, as the devil is accredited with per-
| forming an unpleasant operation in yawn-
| ing mouths. On the other hand, anyone
wearing a new garment, or looking spe-
cially spruce. or having performed some
clever or meritorious act, receives the
| compliment, ''Bi sahh't-ak" (''In thy
| strength'D. But if occasion should arise
| for the mention, in polite society or before
a superior of woman. a pig or a Jew,
it is incumbent to make use of an apol-
ogy "Hash-aki'
A Moor knows how to enjoy n good
| joke to the full, and, seated on the floor.
! he bends backward and forward without
| restraint in his laughter Often the teller
| of the story will join in the process, too.
| Raising their right hands far above their
| heads as they roll back, they bring them
| together in a hearty shake. There never
WIS a grander way of enjoying joke in
| vented. The women when happy give
| vent to their feelings by shrill "Yoo
| yoo. yoo yoo, 700 yoo yoo."
Reduced Rstes to Mount Gretnu via
PennsyIvnnin Railroad.
Account Pennsylvania Chautauqua,