The Republican journal., 1901-12-19

Lies in the Power of Pleasing Men. The
Ghetto in Gala Attire.
Especial Correspondence Of The Journal
CITY OF Morocco, Nov. 2, 1901.
Since little is to be seen of Moham-
medan women except shapeless
bundle of white wooden cloth, so ar
ranged over the head and face as to
leave only part of one eye exposed, as
they shuttle about the streets in heel
less slippers, or ride on donkeys led by
eunuchs-one cannot judge of their
Cooks" except as reflected in the chill
dren. Strange to say, some of the
small folk have perfectly white com
plexions; and though most of them
would be vastly improved by the appli-
cation of soap and water, they have
the loveliest eyes imaginable and an ex-
preston Of intelligence and great ami
ability. Babies of the middle and lower
classes are carried around in sacks, on
the shoulders of their mothers, their
bodies encased in little jackets, like
Joseph's coat of many cOlors," each
so tightly girded as to remind one of a
well-stuffed sausage.
OF course the Jewish women do not
veil their faces. They are usually of
the intense brunette type, with mag
niicent dark eyes and stately bearing,
very handsome while young, but, like
most of their race in other parts of the
world, inclined to take on fat at middle
age, with moustaches and excessive
oilineSS of the skin. To see African
Jewesses at their best, one must go
through Ghetto, or Jewish quarter of
the town one happens to be in, on the
Sabbath, our Saturday. when all the
shops are closed and business of every
kind suspended, the woman and girls,
in their gala attire, squatted on the fiat
roofs of their houses All wear long,
straight gowns, without drapery Of any
kind, but of the richest silk, in gorge
Gus shades and combinations of orange,
purple, crimson and green. Each dress
is confined at the waist by GOLDEN
broidered girdle, nearly a foot wide;
and the wearer is also decked with a
heavy chain of pure gold, wound round
and round her neck and falling far
down in front, armlets of gold and sill
yer, and many rings, both on fingers
and toes. Her stockingless feet are en-
cased in colored, pointed slippers, which
she drops off when sitting, probably to
ease the pressure of the toe-rings.
When abroad she wears plain band of
white linen bound about her chin, and
a black silk scarf folded tightly across
the forehead and falling down behind,
a great jeweled ornament keeping it in
place at the back of the head There
are fully three thousand Jews in Mo-
rocco city, and it is said that not one of
them is poor. though, of necessity, they
live outWardly like beggars. Mussulmen
consider them ''unclean animals and
enemies of God, and therefore heap
every species of insult and oppression
upon them. If it is mistrusted that a
son of Israel has prospered and may
have ready money in his house, the
place is inevitably looted, under pre-
tence of gathering in the name of
the Sultan: and the poor fellow may
consider himself extremely lucky if he
gets off with nothing worse than the
loss of his cash and a bastinadoing that
does not actually cripple him for life.
Every night the Jews are securely lock
as the Mellah, or place of damnation,
and are not permitted to 60 outside
till after sunrise, whatever happens.
When abroad, the Jews must always
wear black clothes, i'll token of misfor-
tune and humiliation; and 60 bare foot
ed, lest by any chance they be guilty
of the objectionable offence of setting
sacreligious shoes in the vicinity of
Holy house; while to pass mosque, or
even to enter a street in which one is
situated, means death to the offender.
w neu6N61 d JEW LletuS Uluc UC-
lever" he must step so far aside that
by no possibility can their garments
touch; and if he has occasion to enter
the presence of any official, he must re-
peatedly salaam till his forehead
touches the ground, kissing the hem of
the rulers burnous and making other
confessions of degradation. Yet the
despised and hated Hebrews are such
useful citizens that laws have been
passed forbidding them to leave the
country. Nobody else can build
house, make or mend a lock, manufac-
ture gold and silver trinkets, weave
silk and wooden cloth,-all of which
occupation the lazy Moors and Arabs
regard with supreme contempt. Inside
their houses, when the days work is done
and the gates of the Mellah securely
locked for the night, the Hebrew gentle
man is altogether a different character
from the shabby and cringing crea-
ture to be met on the street. He dons
a rich robe, long and flowing, green or
nllrDla turhan GOLD ON hrnidarod uaict