CHAP. I. 
ARABS. 
39 
the sun, and from not being very particular in their ablutions. 
They are active ; capable of undergoing great fatigue and abstinence 
from food ; lively in their manners ; daring, and possessed of much 
cunning: though generous, they are great beggars; revengeful 
and unforgiving. The general costume of the men is a large loose 
shirt and trowsers of cotton, sandals, or tight half boots of red 
leather, which lace in front, fit close round the ankle, and rise as 
high as the calf of the leg. On their heads they wear a red cap, 
which is long enough to hang a little down on one side ; from the 
top of it falls a tassel of blue silk. A wrapper of woollen (from about 
twenty to twenty-five feet in length, and five or six in breadth), 
woven rather more compactly than flannel, is thrown round the 
body in folds, part being placed over the head in the manner of a 
hood, while the end is thrown over the left shoulder, and hangs 
down behind the back. This article of dress has several names, 
according to its texture. The most coarse and heavy is called 
Aba. That between this and the finest (called Jereed) is named 
Kholi ; but in Tripoh, all three are known under the appellation of 
Barracan. A large cloak, having a hood, and no sleeves, and com- 
posed of closely and well-woven wool without a seam, is used in 
rainy or cold weather over the Barracan, and is called Bornouse. 
The dress of the females differs but little from that of the men in 
materials, but they put it on in a different manner. The poorest 
class wear only the Barracan, which is passed over the head and 
fastened at the waist ; others have a shirt in addition to this. 
Young women wear their hair in tresses, to which they attach 
beads, pieces of coral, silver, or any other gaudy thing which they can 
procure ; and they have one or two large silver ornaments in the 
form of crescents, fastened on the right side of the head, on which 
they also frequently wear a large woollen turban of blue, wrapped 
carelessly round. From their ears are suspended a multitude of 
