of the Old World. 375 



for the Koran. The old men act as judges, and 

 settle all the affairs of the community, subject to the 

 supreme authority of the chief, whose will is law. 

 They are an exceedingly fine and handsome race ; the 

 men being tall, well-made, and muscular, though 

 rather of slight build, with pleasing features, flowing 

 beards, and remarkably small hands and feet. 



The dress of the common people in some respects 

 resembles that of the Tartars, but is more elegant ; 

 it consists of a sheepskin cap with high peak of grey 

 cloth, white or yellow linen tight-fitting trousers, 

 yellow boots, and shirt-like tunic, bound with gold 

 or silver lace, having on each side of the breast 

 cases made of morocco for holding cartridges. Their 

 arms are a kind of rifled matchlock, pistol, sabre, 

 and broad, heavy, double-edged poignard. Their 

 chiefs or nobles, however, present a much more 

 brilliant spectacle when in full dress, being clad, like 

 our knights of old, in coats of mail composed of rings 

 of steel joined together with the most beautiful work- 

 manship, and armed with damascened sabres, daggers, 

 and richly-ornamented pistols, often inlaid with gold. 



Their women have long been celebrated for their 

 extreme beauty, the harems of Constantinople being 

 kept supplied from the descendants of slaves, though 

 not, as is generally supposed, from the families of 

 the free tribes. They are of slender and elegant 

 figures, with regular features, white skin, and dark 



