SOCIAL SI ATE OF THL AKAB8. 311 



the jubbe or under one, — botli of cloth such as is 

 worn in all parts of Turkey. The rest of their dress 

 consists of ii showy silk gown, tied with a thin Cash- 

 mere sash, a white muslin turban, and yellow slip- 

 pers. In summer the benish is composed of a very 

 slight silk stuff of Indian manufacture. Beneath 

 the jubbe some wear a gown, called beden^ of white 

 muslin, without lining or sleeves, and very short. 

 The Meccavvees are remarkable for being cleanly and 

 tasteful in their attire. On feast-days and other public 

 occasions their finery is displayed in the highest de- 

 gree. The common shopkeeper, who walks about 

 the whole year in his short gown with a napkin 

 round his loins, appears in a pink-coloured benish 

 lined with satin, a gold-embroidered turban, rich silk 

 sash, and jambea with its scabbard ornamented with 

 gold and silver. His wives and children are decked 

 in the gaudiest coloui's ; but after the feast is over 

 the fine suits are laid aside. At home in his disha- 

 bille, the citizen seats himself near his projecting 

 latticed window, holding in one hand the long snake 

 of his Persian hookah, and in the other a small 

 square fan made of the chippings of date leaves, with 

 which he drives away the flies. *The women's dress 

 is generally Indian silk gowns, and very large blue 

 striped trousers reaching down to the ankles, em- 

 broidered below with silver thread. Over these they 

 throw a sort of cloak called -^a^ra or mellaye, of black 

 or striped silk, which covers the head, and has a 

 graceful effect. The wealthy wear gold necklaces, 

 bracelets, and silver ankle-rings, while the poorer 

 classes have similar trinkets of horn, glass, or am- 

 ber. A ring is sometimes passed through the car- 

 tilage of the nose, and hangs down upon the upper- 

 lip. The face is concealed with a white or light- 

 blue piece of cloth called borko, in which there are 

 two holes worked for the eyes, but so large that 

 nearly the entire features may be seen. This piece 

 of female vanity, according to Ali Bey, had better be 



