About This Time All The Women Of The Camp Had Their Feet And The
Ends Of Their Fingers Stained Of A Dark Saffron Colour.
I could
never ascertain whether this was done from motives of religion, or
by way of ornament.
March 28. - This morning a large herd of cattle arrived from the
eastward, and one of the drivers, to whom Ali had lent my horse,
came into my hut with the leg of an antelope as a present, and told
me that my horse was standing before Ali's tent. In a little time
Ali sent one of his slaves to inform me that in the afternoon I must
be in readiness to ride out with him, as he intended to show me to
some of his women.
About four o'clock, Ali, with six of his courtiers, came riding to
my hut, and told me to follow them. I readily complied. But here a
new difficulty occurred. The Moors, accustomed to a loose and easy
dress, could not reconcile themselves to the appearance of my
NANKEEN BREECHES, which they said were not only inelegant, but, on
account of their tightness, very indecent; and as this was a visit
to ladies, Ali ordered my boy to bring out the loose cloak which I
had always worn since my arrival at Benowm, and told me to wrap it
close round me. We visited the tents of four different ladies, at
every one of which I was presented with a bowl of milk and water.
All these ladies were remarkably corpulent, which is considered here
as the highest mark of beauty.
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