40 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. I. 
silver rings, and round their necks they hang rows of beads of 
various colours. The old women frizzle their hair over the fore- 
head, so as to make it project to some distance ; and they dye it of a 
dull red, with the leaves of a plant called Henna, which gives it the 
appearance of red wool. All the females have a practice of tattooing 
their chins, the tips of their noses, and between the eyebrows. 
Their necks and arms are also frequently marked. The favourite 
figure is that of a hand, which is intended to avert the " Evil Eye." 
They wear red lacing boots, in the same manner as the men. 
When young (that is to say, fifteen or sixteen), they have fine 
figures, and are exceedingly handsome ; but they soon lose their 
good looks and pleasing form, and become as ugly as they were 
before beautiful. Their eyes are black and large ; their noses 
straight and well proportioned; they have small lips, and their 
teeth are exquisitely white. Nothing, in fact, can exceed in 
prettiness an Arab girl; but the old women are, without excep- 
tion, the most disgusting and hideous creatures I ever beheld. 
Eoth sexes blacken their eyelids with Kohol, or lead ore pow- 
dered, which adds much to the brilliancy of the eye, and makes 
it appear larger than it really is. They all wear an immense 
quantity of Agebs or Charms, against disorders and mis- 
fortunes. 
The arms of the Arabs are the same as those of the natives of 
Tripoli, viz. guns, pistols, swords, and daggers. They are good 
shots, when able to rest their guns ; but otherwise cannot easily 
manage them. The gun is slung over the shoulders, and the 
pistols are worn in a belt, which is hung round the body, and 
which contains the ammunition. They are constantly armed with 
both these weapons ; but the sword is seldom carried, unless when 
they ride on horseback ; it is then suspended by the side of 
the saddle, in such a way as to remain under the left leg, with the 
