New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25
DIPPING IN THE DISH"
Fhthy Custom of Eating in Common
Which PreumLs among arabs.

Healh as Is popularly believed, for If they were
the total destruction of the Orientals would
have taken place many centuries ago. For
among the many peculiar and primitive customs
OF the semi-civized races of the HOLY Land
one Of the most Ioathsome practised to-day is
mat called by Westerners dipping in the dish"
The custom dates back to Biblical days
witnessing an Arab meal, one truly wonders
shat there can be any human beings left to
carry or this horrid CUSTOM when one con-
siders how great are the precautions deemed
necessary in civilized lands both for the sake
Of cleanliness and for checking the spread of
disease. For it is a collection of dirty and
griIny hands that sees around the one COM
mon dish of rice and beans or Of sour milk
which constitutes the principal meal of the day,
either in the home or in the field.
To watch these hungry beings setting to
work TO devour their food, making use of their
black hands reeking with filth and Crime. is
enough TO take away ones appetite. True
enough. according to the religious laws of both
Mahometans and Jews it is required that the
hands be washed before eating well be-
fore praying Correct manners demand that the
bearer of a pitcher shall pour water the
hands of each member of a group sitting down
70 cat. Where the people are we'll to do both
pitcher and basin of silver and a towel is
carried on the bearers for the wiping of
hands. Ordinary people simply pour the water
using the corner Of the flowing robe for
towel.
But when they do thus wash their
hands" before sitting down to eat, the scarcity
Of water allows only a so-called cats lick
and as soap is an unknown quantity to the
Arab, this sprinkng of water over his finger
tips does not really lessen the dirt on the hands,
as they are rarely washed at other times Nor
does it remove any germs of disease that must
sr7aH tal,l hax-n +ha I-B=
intercourse with animals and friends and neigh
bors Of every class and condition, to each of
whom a hearty salutation has been offered, in
the shape Of much handshaking ana ELUSIVE
kissing Of both hands and faces, all of which
would tend more or less to spread germs
When one thinks Of the numerous lepers in
Palestine. who are allowed much freedom, and
OF those afflicted with minor skin diseases who
uingle freely with others regardless of the pos
sibility Of infection, without mentioning the APP
palling prevalence of ophthalmia, about which
there is absolutely no care or precautiOn taken,
# becomes a fearsome sight, this mnglng Of
soied and diseased hands in common dish
of food at the time and the placing of
these hands within the eaters mouths after
having handled food just touched by their
neighbours perhaps filthier ones.
Still more repeIling than this custom Of put
ting ones food into ones own mouth with
soiled and greasy hands is the mark of atten-
ton demanded by Bedouin etiquette from host
to his guest Before any of the group seated
the rough mating around the wooden bowl
Of food the floor begin to eat, the host with
much ostentation places his hand in the dish
before him and, taking out good handful of the
greasy sop, rolls IT well between his palms. and
patting it down thoroughly into the shape Of
q ball reaches over toward his guest and him
self puts it right into his mouth, pushing il well
IN with his fingers.
This is Arab courtesy and hospitality, and If
the guest is well bred he will open his mouth
ID receive this dainty rnorsel and thus accept
his hosts mark Of favor. With this signal the
meal beings. Then, turning up their wide
sleeves TO keep them well out of the dish, the
company set to work hastily to devour the con-
tents Of the dish before them, and suddenly
eight or ten dirty hands are plunged into the
dish at
There is an unwritten law which appoints to
each man his own portion for digging in tie
dish"-that is, the part nearest to his right hand
and il would be as gross impoliteness for him
TO help himself to that on his left as for West
erners to put knives in their mouths. Only one
hand should be used and with this balls are
made out Of the greasy mess, which are chucked
into the mouth by dexterous movement of the
thumb. But rules of savage etiquette ere
broken in the Orient often those Of good