CHAP. I. 
TRIPOLI. 
7 
Over these dresses woollen and cloth Bornouses are worn. 
The turbans are various, according to fancy : shawls of Cashmere, or 
imitations of those of Europe, are considered as the most splendid. 
Green turbans, it is well known, can be worn by none who are not 
shreefs, or descendants of the prophet. Blue, being the colour 
confined to the Jews, is of course not used in the turbans of the 
Mohammedans. 
In riding out, bopts of red, and sometimes yellow Morocco 
leather are worn, a pad being closely tied round each ankle before 
putting them on, in order to prevent the large stirrups from hurting 
the leg. When not riding, yellow slippers, with soles of the same 
kind as the upper leathers, are used, and are slipped into large 
solid ones of the same colour with thick soles when walking out. 
These last are always left at the door on entering a room. Red 
shoes are also worn by the middle class. The Jews are restricted to 
black. The trappings of the horse are gaudy, and as cumbrous as 
those of its rider. The saddles are high before and behind, much 
the same as those used in Spain. Under them, on the back of the 
horse, are five or six cloths of different colours, which are so arranged 
that the edges of each are shown. The saddles are frequently 
covered with highly embroidered velvet, or richly embossed gilt 
cases. Over the seat is thrown a saddle-cloth, bordered with gilt 
lace and embroidery. The stirrups are from a foot to twenty inches 
in length, and are generally gilt. 
Having thus given a sketch of the costume of the Tripoli men, 
I conceive it necessary to mention that we fully adopted the dress 
and appearance of Moslems, using all our endeavours to become 
acquainted with their manners. Mr. Ritchie assumed the name of 
Yussuf el Ritchie, (^^Xjjil^^t^jj Belford was called Ah, Dupont 
Mourad, and I was styled Said ben abd AUah aXJIcX^^^jJujuni. 
We found no difficulty in procuring a fighi (or clerk) of one of the 
