FINE FEATHERS 261 



to the folly of tourists, the word backsheesh is current 

 coin. 



The rich man among the Arabs dresses richly. His 

 shirt is of fine linen. His inside vest is buttoned, the out- 

 side one is worn loose. A long paletot often takes the 

 place of the latter. It is cut part way down from the 

 throat, and the loose armholes allow the arms to be held 

 in or outside. The wide trousers are bound about the 

 waist by a costly scarf. Over all is frequently worn the 

 long, loose tunic, cut Y shape at the neck, and with short 

 sleeves set on low down. The hands are as frequently 

 kept inside as out in winter for warmth, in summer from 

 habit ; and an Arab reaches out from the Y at the neck 

 for anything he wants handed him with a peculiarly lim- 

 ited motion, which at first you fail to comprehend. The 

 burnoose is an out-of-doors garment, and the fez may or 

 may not have the turban -cloth. The swell wears what 

 look like European socks, and his slippers, usually trodden 

 down at heel by the common or careless, are handsomely 

 embroidered, or else of fine morocco, red or yellow. The 

 calf of the leg is naked. Parts of this dress are dropped at 

 intervals according to the season. There are few persons 

 more really magnificent than a well-dressed Arab sheik, 

 or a man of wealth. In our days of business suits which 

 clothe all kinds and conditions of men, the dress is uncom- 

 monly attractive on an Arab. That it would work in 

 with our habits one would hardly allege. But the trou- 

 sers, of whatever cut, have one manifest advantage they 

 do not, cannot, bag at the knee, whether you sit or stand. 



