MUSTAPHA'S HONEYMOON. 
75 
cessantly ; whilst the shrill Arab music was declared by all to be 
(^‘'good^'’) . 
In the course of a few days the boy Achmed ushered into the 
saloon two females closely veiled^ announcing Om il Aroussa^^ (the 
mother and hride^-’) . Kissing my hand_, they seated themselves on 
rugs which were on the ground_, removing^ as they did so^ their red 
slippers. Their veils they threw aside, and the old woman com- 
menced conversing; hut my knowledge of Arabic was very slight, 
so I contemplated the bride. The mother was certainly praising 
the charms of her daughter, and well she might, for she was a 
young and beautiful girl, her eyes large and dreamy, the lashes 
and eyebrows deeply marked with Icochl (antimony) ; her skin was 
of a pale olive shade; magnificent long black hair adorned her 
head, hanging down in many heavy braids : these were ornamented 
with gold coins (sequins) ; hands and finger-nails were stained 
with henna : this is a universal custom, therefore the henna, a 
privet-like shrub, is much cultivated. The leaves are collected and 
dried, then diluted with water, when the rosy or yellow dye is 
obtained. The dress and full drawers worn were of a pretty pat- 
terned chintz; the chemise, with its long hanging sleeves, was 
pink net spotted with silver ; a necklace of pebbles cut into beads, 
the latter separated by a finely- wrought one of Soudan gold. The 
necklace was so long that it encircled the throat three times. 
Poor Mustapha^s troubles soon began. He had not been married 
more than a week when he was summoned by the parents of his 
bride to appear before the Cadi or magistrate, to pay the dowry 
he had promised. Mustapha explained that the wedding ex- 
penses had been heavy, he having to defray all, but that if a little 
time were granted te would be in a position to pay the sum. The 
mother, however, was inexorable, and she was allowed to take the 
