176 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. IV. 
thickness, which, from their immense weight, had produced callous 
rings round the legs and arms of the poor infants. They wore silk 
shirts, composed of ribbons sewed together in stripes of various 
colours, which hung down over silk trowsers. An embroidered 
waistcoat and cap completed this overwhelming costume. Their 
nails, the tips of their fingers, the palms of their hands, and the 
soles of their feet, were dyed dark brown with henna. I had viewed 
with amazement and pity the dress of these poor little girls, borne 
down as they were by finery ; but that of the youngest boy, a 
stupid-looking child of four years old, was even more preposterous 
than that of his sisters. In addition to the ornaments worn by 
them, he was loaded with a number of charms, enclosed in gold 
cases, slung round liis body ; in his cap were numerous jewels, 
heavily set in gold in the form of open hands, to keep off the effects 
of the " Evil Eye." These talismans were sewn on the front of his 
cap, which they entirely covered. His clothes were highly em- 
broidered, and consisted of three waistcoats, a shirt of white silk, 
the women only wearing coloured ones, and loose cloth, silk, or 
muslin trowsers. 
The costume of the Sultan's court, or hangers on, is strictly 
Tripoline, and as fine as lace or presents of cast off clothes can 
make them. It is the custom with Mukni, in imitation of the 
Bashaw, to bestow occasionally on his principal people some article 
of dress. These presents are made with much affected dignity, by 
throwing the garment to the person intended to be honoured, and 
saying, " wear that ;" the dress is immediately put on in his 
presence, and the receiver kneels and kisses his hand in token of 
gratitude. I once saw the old Kadi, who is very corpulent, receive 
as a gift, a Kaftan, which was so small for him, that when he had 
squeezed himself into it, he was unable to move his arms, and was 
m that condition obliged to walk home. 
