'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎671] (770/905)

CHAP. XXV.]
DRESS OF THE ARAB WOMEN,
671
figures. Their eyelids and lips are stained with purple, and The hands and
their nails, as well as the soles of their feet, and the palms of feetstained -
their hands, are dyed with henna, 1 of an orange colour. The
custom of painting the face existed in the time of Jeremiah ; 2
and it has been supposed that Job's third daughter took her
name from the implements used in this operation. 3
In the left cartilage of the nose is worn a large gold ring, Nose-jewds,
for which is sometimes substituted an ornament, consisting of &c "
two or three circular plates of gold, in the form of a rosette,
in the centre of which, attached to the pin passing through
the side of the nose, is a turquoise or some other stone. 4
Numerous rings of gold, silver, or glass, according to the
means of the wearer, adorn the wrists or arms, while large
ornaments of silver, iron, or glass, surround the ankles; the
metal ornaments are hollow, and sometimes there are attached
to them a number of small bells. These are called khalkhal,
and the rings hejil.
Coarse cotton trowsers, drawn close round the ankles, and
loose above, are worn, while a long shapeless dress, of a deep
blue colour, and of the same material as the trowsers, extends
from the neck to the feet; the latter are almost invariably The face not
bare. The head is either bare, or covered with a dark blue ceakdl^ con
cotton kerchief, which is thrown over the black, and sometimes
matted hair. Veils and wrappers, which almost hide the face,
are in use among the sedentary Arabs; but the Bedawin
females only cover the face when they are on a journey. 5
When young, they are pretty; but, owing to their exposed
life, they early become ill-favoured, and, in this respect, the
men have greatly the advantage.
The Arabs take two meals in a day, the lighter in the
morning, and the more substantial one after sunset; but
coffee is taken several times in the interval. They live chiefly
on vegetables, such as rice, wheat, and dhurrah, or barley-
1 The Lawsonia alba of Linnaeus, whose leaves are dried and powdered for
the purpose.
a Though thou rentest thy face with painting.—Jer., chap. IV., v. 30.
3 Cornu-Stibii of the Vulgate.
4 Probably the nose-jewel mentioned by Isaiah, chap. III., v. 21.
J See Plate LXXXIV.