78 TEAVELLING- COSTUME. ch. iv. 



such an approximation to it as would prevent our attract- 

 ing notice from afar as strange and outlandish creatures. 

 After due deliberation, the haih was finally rejected. This 

 is the ordinary outer garment of natives of the upper 

 class. An ample robe of fine white woollen stuff is a 

 graceful and picturesque garment, especially on those who 

 know how to group its folds about the person ; but it is 

 absolutely incompatible with the free use of the limbs, and 

 more especially for botanists, whose pursuit brings them 

 into frequent contact with the numberless spiny plants of 

 this region. The unsightly jellabia, a blouse of rough 

 white woollen stuff, with the addition of a hood that may 

 be drawn over the head, was adopted, and was not found 

 very inconvenient. 



Anticipating unavoidable exposure to a nearly vertical 

 sun, we had provided ourselves with the grey pith venti- 

 lating helmets so commonly used by Englishmen in the 

 tropics. It was found that by winding round one of these 

 a moderate strip of the usual material for turbans, it 

 might be made to pass muster at a distance. But for 

 head-gear on important occasions the turban was indis- 

 pensable. The material, a broad band of light muslin, 

 about thirteen or fourteen yards in length, is supplied from 

 England, but the art of winding it round the head requires 

 long practice, and we always resorted to the aid of one 

 of our attendants. It certainly gives protection against a 

 hot sun ; but it is never quite convenient to a European 

 of active habits, who finds it hard to acquire the orthodox 

 gravity of Oriental demeanour, and is sadly apt to disturb 

 the folds of the turban by some abrupt movement. 



There was one article of dress as to which no compro- 

 mise was possible. The slippers down at heel that are 

 commonly used by all classes of natives, and even the red 

 or yellow loose boots that are sometimes worn on a journey, 

 were equally unsuited to our habits and pursuits, and we 

 held fast to our accustomed foot-covering. 



Mr. Carstensen had kindly made excellent arrange- 



