DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0036
3S LANGUAGE AND DRESS.
they were dressed in the same kind of uniform. 'That
of the common soldier consists of a tight round-about
coat, made of coarse cotton cloth, without coloring or
bleaching ; loose kilt breeches of the same material,
leggings of the same, the coarsest kind of shoes, and
a red turban cap with a large blue tassel hanging
from the crown down the back side. Neither lace or
tinsel marks either soldier or officer. An officer gen-
erally wears a blue coat, made of a thin cotton stuff,
and is principally distinguished by his belt and side-
arms. I saw several companies on parade in Alexan-
dria. Their exercise in tactics would appear awk-
ward enough at West Point, and their music of fife and
drum, if possible, worse. The airs they play, had, to
me, scarce the model of a tune.
A large number of languages are spoken in Alexan-
dria, and yet I saw but few who could converse in
good English. Even in the Frank quarters, the Ital-
ian and French languages are the most prevalent.
There is one English hotel,-and I believe but one, in
the city. As to dress, the Frank quarters present a
great, variety of fashions,' so that travelers, whether
from Europe or America, will be sure to' there find
themselves in fashion. The Egyptian dress is of
Turkish fashion. That of the males consists of a short
round-about coat, loose kilt breeches, coming just
below the knees, and a red cap called a tarbouch. In
four cases out of five, this constitutes the entire out-
ward suit. Stockings, and shoes are rare among the
lower class, whether males or females. The higher
classes are generally seen with long white stockings
and red or yellow slippers. The Egyptian females
they were dressed in the same kind of uniform. 'That
of the common soldier consists of a tight round-about
coat, made of coarse cotton cloth, without coloring or
bleaching ; loose kilt breeches of the same material,
leggings of the same, the coarsest kind of shoes, and
a red turban cap with a large blue tassel hanging
from the crown down the back side. Neither lace or
tinsel marks either soldier or officer. An officer gen-
erally wears a blue coat, made of a thin cotton stuff,
and is principally distinguished by his belt and side-
arms. I saw several companies on parade in Alexan-
dria. Their exercise in tactics would appear awk-
ward enough at West Point, and their music of fife and
drum, if possible, worse. The airs they play, had, to
me, scarce the model of a tune.
A large number of languages are spoken in Alexan-
dria, and yet I saw but few who could converse in
good English. Even in the Frank quarters, the Ital-
ian and French languages are the most prevalent.
There is one English hotel,-and I believe but one, in
the city. As to dress, the Frank quarters present a
great, variety of fashions,' so that travelers, whether
from Europe or America, will be sure to' there find
themselves in fashion. The Egyptian dress is of
Turkish fashion. That of the males consists of a short
round-about coat, loose kilt breeches, coming just
below the knees, and a red cap called a tarbouch. In
four cases out of five, this constitutes the entire out-
ward suit. Stockings, and shoes are rare among the
lower class, whether males or females. The higher
classes are generally seen with long white stockings
and red or yellow slippers. The Egyptian females