270 
FETE OF THE BAGDAD LADIES. 
dress is altogether very becoming; by its easy folds, and glit¬ 
tering transparency, shewing a fine shape to advantage, without 
the immodest exposure of the open vest of the Persian ladies. 
The humbler females generally move abroad with faces totally 
unveiled, having a handkerchief rolled round their heads, from 
beneath which their hair hangs down over their shoulders, while 
another piece of linen passes under their chin, in the fashion of 
the Georgians. Their garment is a gown of a shift form, reach¬ 
ing to their ankles, open before, and of a grey colour. Their 
feet are completely naked. Many of the very inferior classes 
stain their bosoms with the figures of circles, half-moons, stars, 
&c., in a bluish stamp. In this barbaric embellishment, the 
poor damsel of Irak Arabi has one point of vanity resembling 
that of the ladies of Irak Ajem. The former frequently adds 
this frightful cadaverous hue to her lips ; and, to complete the 
savage appearance, thrusts a ring through her right nostril, pen¬ 
dent with a flat button-like ornament set round with blue or red 
stones. 
But to return to the ladies of the higher circles, whom we 
left in some gay saloon of Bagdad. When all are assembled, the 
evening meal, or dinner, is soon served. The party, seated in 
rows, then prepare themselves for the entrance of the show; 
which, consisting of music and dancing, continues in noisy ex¬ 
hibition through the whole night. At twelve o’clock, supper is 
produced ; when pilaus, kabobs, preserves, fruits, dried sweet¬ 
meats, and sherbets of every fabric and flavour, engage the fair 
convives for some time. Between this second banquet, and the 
preceding, the perfumed narquilly is never absent from their 
rosy lips ; excepting when they sip coffee, or indulge in a general 
shout of approbation, or a hearty peal of laughter at the freaks 
