DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68501#0498
478
THE TOILETTE IN ARABIA.
province of Lachsa, in particular, this robe is worn by
both men and women. The lower orders merely gird
a piece of linen about their loins, and throw another
piece over the shoulders ; but never wear less than
two or three caps, and have neither shoes nor stock-
ings. In the mountains, where the climate is colder,
they have sheep-skin garments.
Persons of the middle class have sandals instead of
shoes ; they are single soles, or thin pieces of wood,
fastened to the feet with leathern thongs, Richer
people wear slippers, and the women always use the
latter covering for the feet. In several parts of Arabia
the men do not wear drawers ; but these last, with
the addition of a shirt, always form the female dress.
At Hedsjas, as in Egypt, they veil their faces with a
piece of linen, leaving only the eyes uncovered. In
Yemen the veil is much larger, and covers the face,
so that even the eyes are not discernible. At Sana
and Mokha the women wear a transparent gauze veil,
embroidered in gold. They are very fond of rings on
their fingers, arms, wrists, and ears ; they stain their
nails red, and their hands and feet of a brownish yel-
low, with the juice of a plant called el henne; they
also paint all round the eyelids, and even the eyelashes
themselves, with kochhel, which renders them quite
black. Men even sometimes imitate this fashion, but
it is considered effeminate.
The women of Yemen make black punctures on
the face, which they consider improves their beauty.
Fashion shews its influence in this country most par-
ticularly in the manner of wearing the hair and beard.
In the states of Sana all men, whatever their rank,
shave their heads ; in other parts of Yemen it is the
THE TOILETTE IN ARABIA.
province of Lachsa, in particular, this robe is worn by
both men and women. The lower orders merely gird
a piece of linen about their loins, and throw another
piece over the shoulders ; but never wear less than
two or three caps, and have neither shoes nor stock-
ings. In the mountains, where the climate is colder,
they have sheep-skin garments.
Persons of the middle class have sandals instead of
shoes ; they are single soles, or thin pieces of wood,
fastened to the feet with leathern thongs, Richer
people wear slippers, and the women always use the
latter covering for the feet. In several parts of Arabia
the men do not wear drawers ; but these last, with
the addition of a shirt, always form the female dress.
At Hedsjas, as in Egypt, they veil their faces with a
piece of linen, leaving only the eyes uncovered. In
Yemen the veil is much larger, and covers the face,
so that even the eyes are not discernible. At Sana
and Mokha the women wear a transparent gauze veil,
embroidered in gold. They are very fond of rings on
their fingers, arms, wrists, and ears ; they stain their
nails red, and their hands and feet of a brownish yel-
low, with the juice of a plant called el henne; they
also paint all round the eyelids, and even the eyelashes
themselves, with kochhel, which renders them quite
black. Men even sometimes imitate this fashion, but
it is considered effeminate.
The women of Yemen make black punctures on
the face, which they consider improves their beauty.
Fashion shews its influence in this country most par-
ticularly in the manner of wearing the hair and beard.
In the states of Sana all men, whatever their rank,
shave their heads ; in other parts of Yemen it is the