Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-09-15
A MEAL WITH A MOOR
The Repast Began With Green
Tea Served In Glasses.
FOOD EATEN WITH FINGERS.

'ao'e Manners In a Moorish Gentle
mans Houss-A Particular Mark Of
! Favor BY the Host to His o,,e...
That Is Not Always Appreciated.
During my stay 10 Fee took every
opportunity OF gaining a closer insight
INTO the domestic life OF the inhablt-
anus ana Tor that reason, writes Law
renee Harris I'm the London Graphic. I
heartily accepted an Invitation tlsiinc
with Abdullah el FAST. the minister
for foreign affairs.
On arriving at his home L, was ush-
cred into large room In Which were
seated five or six guests OF high rank
Abduilah took me by the hand and
grayely introduced me TO the companv
a silken cushion was placed on the
divan. upon which seated myself.
The repast commenced with groom
tea served In small glasses. Tho cus-
tom or preparing this Is peculiar to the
country. To the principal native guest
IS given the honor OF making the tea.
In this case Ii was Raisuh. who. being
under British protectisn, had been in
vited TO dinner In my honor. He ac-
cepted the Invitation TO do the honors
OF the evening and ordered the ne
gress 10 place the native brass tray tn
front OF where he sat cross legged ON
the divan. The methods OF proceeding
are not such as would recommend
themselves to an English tea party.
Measuring out the tea I'm his hand.
he dropped It in the pot The negrcss
slave then poured boiling water over
II. This was swilled around ana the
water poured OF. The pot was then
hlled with huge Jumps OF loaf sugar.
broken roughly from n sugar loaf. and
little mint was added. 4 small quan-
uty OF the connection was poured into
glass. slipped and poured back again
INTO the pot This process was con-
tinued until the required dellcacy Of
favor was reached.
The company then drank the custom
airy three glasses OF this slrupy mix
turc, dra wing Il through their teeth
with sound like horse drinking. As
each glass was finished and replaced
In the tray Il was refllcd and handed
back 10y the Keeper OF the pot" who
was supposed 10 remember TO whom
each glass belonged At n sign from
the host the tray was removed. and
another slave approached each person
with n brass bowl. soap aud towel and
bronze kettle OF warm water. The
guests washed their right hands pre-
paratory 10 the dinner.
NTn ali ,
six inches high. upon which was placed
the dish. The courses were many and
varied. As says the Hadlth. 'The
blessing OF God rests on the food taken
with the fingers" so all good Moham-
medans follow the words OF their
prophet No knife must be used on
bread. and the small round loaves are
broken mp and handed around. The
tajin. or stew. IS not difficult 10 ma
nipulatc. although the olives floating
In arSon oil slip through your fingers
Miniature tugs ~ war occur with your
viS-a-vlS IN the effort 10 dismember n
fowl or divide tough meat.
As particular mark 81 favor the
host will from time 20 time place be
A'At you llAtle ilhlt winch ne has
torn on with his greasy fingers. How
ever your stomach rebels against &C.
you have To swallow the morsel. Dur.
Inc the meal the national dish OF cous-
cous IS Invariably served. This dish IS
made from broken grains Of wheat
speciality prepared 10y the women. u
IS served pi!Si up like huge cone.
with The meat on top Each person
scoops out his own little hole in the
side aud must not trespaSS on his
neighbours portion
To the Inexperienced IL IS difficult IL
manage the couScouS without making
an awful mess Of it. The small grain
must be j-diciouSly compressed into 2
loose ball ANA then shot into the mouth
with the back Of the thumb The
MoorS take extreme delight in watch
ing the Intellectual efforts OF Euro
pe0ns who are in difficulties with their
CONSCIOUS. MoorS are very great caters
and little conversation is carried on
during the meal \ bowl OF water is
passed from hand 10 hand for those
who require drink. The last courS
finished. the bowl and water are one,
more requiSitiOned and the hands and