Oriental Attire 



a general rummage. Jillabiahs, haiks, boornooses, fez-caps, 

 cushions, &c. Harry told me that a haik was considered 

 a most desirable thing by young ladies, as a dress to go 

 away from evening parties in. 



I always wonder, for my part, why fair creatures are so 

 particular about a costume to go home in their dark 

 carriages ; but perhaps it is for the sake of the last 

 impression they leave on the carpeted door-step, to haunt 

 the dreams of some shivering adorer, who stands in the 

 night air till John has slumped the tight door into the panel, 

 the sleepy horses plunge heavily forward, and Lady 

 Something Else's carriage stops the way. 



While I was wavering whether to lay out on one of these 

 Moorish veils, which are of a curious white woollen texture, 

 striped or shot, or something of that sort, with silk, the 

 cunning old Jew sent for his daughter. 



She came up very slovenly attired, but they hung the haik 

 upon her, and she looked so pretty in it that I purchased 

 one without more ado. It, indeed, effected in her a great 

 metamorphosis, covering up all the slovenly attire in soft 

 white drapery, and showing only a most fascinating pair of 

 Jewess's eyes (worth more than Jews' eyes), some stray 

 tresses of deepest jet, and part of a forehead like rose-tinted 

 alabaster. 



Afterwards we looked in at the place where they smoke 

 keef; a dirty, sloppy court-yard, little better than the 

 prison. The smokers were squatting about inhaling the 

 fumes of the very small pipes, and rolling up their eyes as 

 if it was very delightful. In the corner a man sat whittling 

 pipe-stems in curious arabesque patterns. The demand 

 apparently exceeded the supply, for he had only one on 

 hand, which was also in hand, and on my off'ering to buy 

 it, he said he must finish it ; I said I had rather not wait, 



179 M 



