Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-07-24
4 MEAL WITH A MOOR
The Repast Began With Green
Tea Served In Glasses.
FOOD EATEN WITH FINGERS.

Table Manners I'm O Moorish Gentle
mans Houss-A Particular Mark Of
Favor by the Host Go HE Guests
That 10 Not Always Appreciated.
During my stay in Fee I took every
opportunity Of gaining a closer insight
into the domestic life Of b inhabit-
ants, and for that reason, writes Law
renee Harris in the London Graphic, I
heartily accepted an invitation to dine
with Abdullah ell Fast. the minister
for foreign affairs.
On arriving at his home I was ush-
cred into a large room In which were
seated FIVE or six guests Of high rank.
Abdullah o o me by the hand and
gravely introduced me to the company.
A silken cushion was placed on the
divan, upon which / seated myself.
The repast commenced with green
tea served in small glasses. The u.s.
tom Of preparing this is peculiar to the
country. To the principal native guest
Is given the honor of making the tea.
In this case 1t was Raisuli. who. being
under British protection. had been in
vited to dinner in my n He ac-
cepted he invitation to do the honors
of the evening and ordered the ne
Rress to place the native brass tray In
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 In his hand.
ne dropped it in the pot. The negress
slav e poured boiling water over
It. This was sWlled around and the
water poured off. The pot was hen
Alled with huge Jumps of o a sugar,
broken roughly from a sugar loaf, and
a little mint was added. A small guam
tlty Of the connection was poured into
q glass. slipped and poured back again
into the pot. This process was con-
tinued until the required delicacy of
navor was reached.
The company then drank the custom
airy three glasses OF this sirupy mix
ture, drawing it through their teeth
with a sound i K a horse drinking. AS
each glass was finished and replaced
In the tray it was reflled and handed
back by the keeper OF the pot" who
was supposed t remember to whom
each glass belonged. At a sign from
III host the tray was removed, and
another slave approached each person
with a brass bowl, soap and towel and
a bronze kettle Of warm water. The
guests washed their right hands pre-
paratory to the dinner.
We all sat around a small table about
six inches high. upon which was placed
the dish. The courses were many and
varied. AS says the Hadith. 1.-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 up and handed around. The
tain, or stew, is not difficult to ma
nipulate. although the olives floating
In argon oil slip through your fingers
Miniature tugs OF war occur with your
vls-a-vis in the effort to dismember a
fowl or divide tough meat.
As a particular mark Of favor b
host will from time to time place be-
fore you a little titbit which he has
torn on with his greasy fingers. How
0ver your stomach rebels against 1t.
you have to swallow the morsel. Dur
ing the meal the national dish Of cous-
cous is invariably served. This dish is
made from broken grains of wheat
specially prepared by the m 1t
Is served piled up like a huge cone
with the meat on top. Each person
scoops out his own little hole In the
side and must not trespass on his
neighbours portion.
To the inexperienced it is difficult to
manage the CONSCIOUS without making
an awful mess of it. The small grain
must be judiciously compressed into a
loose ball and then shot into the mouth
with the back of the thumb The
Moors take extreme delight in watch
ing the Intellectual efforts of Euro
peans who are in difficulties with their
couscous. Moors are very great eaters.
and little conversation Is carried on
during the meal. A bowl Of water is
passed from hand to hand for those
who require drink. The last course
finished, the bowl and water are once
more requisitioned and he hands n
mouth washed.