Year: 1876

instead OF an lnoh or two of a blade of
steel.


The fork people aver that there is
danger in using the knife, while the
knife people affirm that there is fully
as much in using the fork. The cases
where the knife man cuts himself are
probably rare, and this argument is
doubtless employed to give reason to
those who eat with fork. From an
aesthetic point of view, it is certainly
more pleasing to look at man who
uses the fork. From the same point,
after divesting oneself of conventional
opinions, it is perhaps more pleasing
to regard him who performs the Office
with his fingers-not fingers that are
all thumbs, but clean, clever, and
graceful fingers.


On subsequent occasion l had an
opportunity of seeing this done by a
Christianized Arso woman. Her hands
were small and handsome, which in.
, deed are characteristic signs in her
race. just before the repast her
hands, already clean, were bathed in
lemon-water and dried on a soft, per.
fumed napkin. Each bit of Wand was
conveyed to the mouth with a natural
charm which invested the act with
poetry. She ate heartily as we'll as
gracefully. When through she washed
her hands with sweet-smelling soap,
the attendant pouring fresh water on
them before they are dried.


That l was permitted to enjoy this
scene of tinger-eating was owing to the
fact of her being a Christian. as Arabs
of Moslem faith veil before strangers,
except those of Egypt, who veil to the
eyes, and the fellahin throughout the
Turkish domains, whose abject con.
ditiOn renders them Indifferent in this
particular. The women of the fellahin
not only eat in. public, but perform
other acts which it would be indiscreet
to describe. 1t should be observed
that the yelling among Moslems of the
town is more closely adhered to than
those of the desert, where the faces of
the women are occasionally seen.


AS the feast progressed-to return
to our dinner-the subordinates con.
tinued to regard us with the expires.
sion OF 4 dog waiting TO-: a bone and
after we stopped the cl ief in his char
acter of host urged us to take more.
He went so far as 10 make ball with
his own hand and to attempt, by gen.
tie persuasion, to introduce it into my
mouth ; but meeting with resistance
he twirled it into his own with the
adroit movement which challenged
the admiration of his guests each time
that they saw it.


When we were satisfied, the great
platter, still about half full, was hand.
ed over to the waiting group of at.
tendants, who ate voraci0usly. After
they had finished small portion OF
food still remained. 1t was taken
away, and soon the sound of women's
voices muffled with food was heard
through the thin partition. That is,
the leavings of the man were given tc
the women, and she accepted them
without a murmur because she knew
no other treatment. 1t is part of the
Arabic nature to be polite to the man
and neglectful to the woman. Fortu
nate indeed is she who is born in the
midst of civilization. We did not fail
to remind Mrs. B. and her daughter OF
the privileges they enjoyed; but they
|
same conviction as ourselves.


We were finished with soap and wa
ter after the remnants of food had dis
appeared. The Arabs went through
the hand-ablution after us, but rather
as matter of form. Then the coffee
was prepared, and of such fragrance
that the manner of doing it deserves
notice. A tin pan, something the
shape of a soup plate perforated like Z
nutmeg crater, containing a few greer
coffee berries, was held over a flame
less wood fire by long handle. Al
soon as the grains were roasted on ont
side they were sing1y turned over, anC
when done were mashed hot in hol
lowed block with wooden pestle, ant
Immediately turned into pot of boil
ing water, which was allowed to sim
mer few minutes, and then the cof
fee was served, of Shiny thickness, anG
of excellent aroma. The six diners o1
the first guild could not however al
once be served, owing to the want OF
cups, of which there were only three
more or less cracked and Mahmou(
and the two guests first partook. Ii
slipping it we more than ever realized
the fact that to have fragrant coffee il
must be made hot from the roasting
which housewives and cooks would d.
we'll to make note of, as it is fe1
their benefit that the process is de
scribed.


1t was plain our convives pridet
themselves on their breeding. As the,
slipped the coffee they made a noise
with their lips such as the horse make.
in drinking, which is here the sign Of
the man accustomed to the usages Of
polite society he who is in the habit
of doing it noiselessly being regarded
as a person whose social education ha:
been neglected.


''Solace of the SOUL" said Mahmoud
making the sound through his lips
'he that possesses thee, a pipe, and {
mare. is blest among men.''>


Next pipes were handed around, thu
wants of the stomach being satisfied
Mahmoud slowly puffed his, and unde1
the soothing narcotic, remarked, with
unctious conviction, ''Life is sweet. ,


The Swedish government has re
ceived advices that state the winter in north
ern Greenland has been very mild, but n,
communication north Of Melville bay ha,
been had since last fall.