76 
be more than commonly interesting. But 
let us proceed :— 
All the other young ladies now follow their 
example; and as each couple retires at the ter- 
mination of their efforts to please, they are hailed 
with shouts of applause, and liberally besprinkled 
with rose and orange-flower water. ‘The old ladies 
evince their approbation by a peculiar vibrating 
scream, produced by the voice passing through 
the nearly-closed lips, whilst the under lip is kept 
in a continual tremulous state by the rapid appli- 
cation of the back of the fore-finger to that feature. 
When dancing is over for the evening, games 
of forfeit are introduced, and promote much mirth ; 
especially one game called ‘‘ Tuthun, Tuthun, min 
Tuthun,”—a game of Turkish origin, as its name 
denotes, and which is played thus: every one in 
the circle takes the name of a bird, a tree, or a 
flower, whilst the king of the game goes round 
and collects in a handkerchief some small article 
from each one present. These he afterwards 
shuffles together, and then drawing out one,which 
he carefully conceals in his hand, he fixes upon 
some one in the circle, to whom he puts the ques- 
tion—‘ Tuthun, Tuthun, min Tuthun?” or “ To- 
bacco, tobacco, whose is it?” The party fixed 
upon is obliged to guess, and he names some bird 
or flower which he has heard some one call him- 
self. If the guess is wrong, he has to hold out 
his hand and receive three stripes from a closely- 
knotted handkerchief; and then, the party referred 
to is next obliged to guess to whom the “ Tuthun”’ 
belongs, and so on all round the circle till the right 
name has been discovered. Then the king resigns 
his post and handkerchief, and is relieved in his 
office by him or her that made the right guess. 
After these games, some one tells a story or recites 
a poem. 
Really, these little games must be delight- 
ful. We should like right well to be one of 
the invited guests. We would tell them 
many a good story; recite to them many a 
pleasing poem. 
But now let us introduce our second ex- 
tract,—the subject an enchanting one. It is 
a full-length picture of a lady of Damascus, 
called by Mr. St. John “a very fair specimen 
of her sex.” Can our English women catch 
any idea worth adopting, from the subjoined 
graphic sketch? WE think they can, if they 
be so disposed. What they are so deficient 
in, are—ease, repose, elegance, and effect. 
When “ dressed,”’ they tell us, unmistakeably, 
they live but to be looked at. The mind 
altogether retires. They are “ all outside.” 
Sad, but true! 
Mr. St. John has evidently made good 
use of his eyes,—even though he may not 
have lost his heart. Beginning (of course) 
with her eyes, he thus writes of 
ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF DAMASCUS. 
Her eyes are beautifully dark ; her eyelashes, 
eyebrows, and hair, of a glossy jet black. The 
latter, tinged with henna, hangs down her back 
and reaches nearly to the ground in a succession 
of plaits; each terminating with black silk braid, 

KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
knotted and interwoven with various sized golden 
coins. Her features (excepting the eyes) are all 
small, but compact. The nose is Grecian, the lips 
cherry, and slightly pouting, the chin dimpled, 
the form of the face oval, and the complexion 
clear, with a rosy tint. The bust and figure are 
unexceptionable, the arms comely, the wrists and 
ankles well turned, and the feet and hands perfect 
models for a sculptor. Yet this is one out of the 
many nondescript beings that we encountered, 
with izar and veil in the street. 
Her face and figure are well set off by the head- 
dress and Oriental costume. On the top of her 
head she wears a small red cap,which is encircled 
by a handsomely-flowered handkerchief; and over 
the latter, strings of pearls and pieces of small 
gold money are tastefully arranged in festoons. 
In the centre of her red cap is a diamond crescent, 
from which hangs a long golden cord with a blue 
silk tassel, usually ornamented with pearls. Her 
vest fits tight, and admirably displays the unlaced 
figure. 
In summer, this vest is of blue or pink satin, 
bordered and fringed with gold lace. In winter, 
cloth, edged with fur, is substituted for the satin ; 
and over the vest is worn a short grey jacket, 
chastely embroidered with black silk braid. 'The 
vest is confined to the waist by a zunnar, in sum- 
mer, of a silk Tripoli scarf, in winter by a costly 
cashmere shawl; and from under this a long robe 
reaches to her ankles, and is divided into two long 
lappels lined with satin and fringed with costly 
trimmings. This latter robe partially conceals 
the shirwal, or full trousers, which hang loosely 
over, and are fastened round the ankles; the tasty 
mixture of colors, and the graceful arrangement, 
render the costume a perfect study. 
Latterly European shoes have been much used 
by the Damascene ladies; especially those gaily- 
flowered kid shoes, imported into Syria from Mar- 
seilles. This completes the young lady’s toilet, 
and her walk and action are as graceful as her 
figure and face are prepossessing ; but beyond the 
naam (yes) and la (no) of conversation, you can 
seldom get a word from her unless you are a very 
intimate friend of the family ; and then, these young 
ladies are as fond of a little romping or quizzing 
as their more accomplished and more elegant 
sisters of the North. 
It would be prudish, were it otherwise ; 
and wHo could help romping with, and quiz- 
zing such charming young ladies, — all so 
becomingly habited! It must mdeed be 
delightful to be “‘ a very intimate friend of 
the family.” We conclude Mr. St. John had 
that honor. Happy traveller! 
It is a mistake, adds the author, to imagine that 
the natives of the Turkish empire are wholly 
excluded from any friendly intercourse with the 
women of those countries,—a tale which has 
gained credence and been perseveringly main- 
tained by travellers, few of whom have ever had 
an opportunity of testing the truth of the report 
by personal experience. Amongst the higher 
classes of the Greek persuasion in particular, every 
freedom exists in doors; young ladies not only 
show themselves, but, after serving the guest with 
coffee and sweetmeats, they will seat themselves 
on the edge of the divan, and soon manage to join 

