'Handbook of Yemen' [‎14r] (32/190)

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sun-dried brick. The larger houses are very tall and have
a tendency to taper upwards, which often gives them the
appearance of truncated pyramids. The fagades are usually
of stucco, whitewashed and ornamented with a chevron
pattern. They are rambling structures with bewildering
passages, spiral stone staircases, tiny casements adorned
with stained glass, and loopholes everywhere in the lower
storeys. The interiors are usually divided into long narrow
rooms with many windows. All large houses have massive
embossed doors of acacia wood, with solid wickets set in
them, the latter so arranged that the bolt can be raised
from above. The dwellings of the wealthy are sometimes
well, not to say luxuriously, furnished.
The dress of the highland Yemen Arabs is peculiar to
themselves. The town-bred natives of San 5 a wear silk
robes, girdled at the waist, large white turbans, and square-
toed sandals. They nearly all carry a shoulder-cloth
which they wrap around their heads in cold weather, and
they seldom wear the jihbah. This costume, though it is
soupposed to denote an educated man {i.e. one versed in
the religious law), is assumed in practice by any one who
can afford it. The dress of the countryman, the moun
taineer, and the poorer class of townspeople, is more
striking and picturesque. It consists of a black turban
fastened in a peculiar manner, a black shirt reaching
to the knees, with sleeves as wide as the shirt itself,
and over it, in full dress, a coloured loin-cloth and most
voluminous sash. These cloths are made in the Yemen,
and are coarse and very strong. The dye is indigo and
is not fast. Nor does its volatility matter, since the
Yemenis like to smear it over their faces and hands.
This habit, and their long black curls carefully oiled, give
them an appearance that is sometimes scarcely human.
The Turkish women are dressed in black and thickly veiled.
The Arab women are wrapped in coloured clothes and like
wise closely veiled in towns. In the country they go un
covered, and in some parts they wear tightish trousers.
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