452 
COURDISH HABIT 
couple of immense gold or silver clasps, richly embossed and 
chased. This belt holds a short dagger, rather curved, the hilt 
is either silver or ivory. It is stuck towards the right side of 
the wearer, with the hilt projecting pretty far out in front of the 
body. Trowsers are worn, stuffed near the ankle into a pair of 
yellow boots. In cold weather they add the Arab abba, or cloak, 
or a mantle something like it, of brown cloth. 
The dress of the lower orders has a general resemblance to 
that of the higher ranks ; the chief distinctions resting in the 
materials, and the garments being shorter. Round the red bag 
of the humbler Gourd, he wraps a fold of common blue and red 
stuff; he wears a dark brown jacket with tight sleeves, and a 
pair of large trowsers of the same, reaching to his ankles. His 
belt is red stuff, with huge brass clasps ; and his dagger, hiked 
with bone, or black hard wood, stuck in its folds, is his inse¬ 
parable companion. On the road, a Courdish noble carries a 
magnificent sword and pistols ; and in harmony with the same 
custom, the lower classes have their scymetars, which they sling 
in the manner of the Turks, with the curve uppermost and 
nearly horizontal, on the left hip ; to this weapon they generally 
add a small round and well polished shield, filled with studs, and 
measuring about twelve or fourteen inches in diameter. Mus¬ 
kets are common in the country, but generally with forked 
rests, playing from a swivel about eighteen inches down the 
back of the stock, by the assistance of which, when placed on 
the ledge of a rock, the possessors are never-failing marksmen. 
Powder-horns, and other pouch-like necessaries, are hung thickly 
about the musketeers, many of whom are barefooted, while 
others wear an admirable light, and even durable shoe, manu¬ 
factured from cotton. Only aged persons of this nation let 
