universal custom to knot the hair up behind, and wrap it in a handkerchief. Caps and turbans are not in use here. In the mountain districts the hair is left long and loose, and is bound with small cords.

There is one universal fashion respecting beards they are never touched, but are allowed to grow to their full length; the moustaches only are sometimes shortened. In Arabia the men's beards are always quite black; sometimes, when

whitened by age, they dye them red, but it is a fashion not much admired or followed.

We learn from Niebuhr that, in Arabia, the Bedouins, or wandering Arabs, wear only a white robe, bound round the waist with a leathern girdle, which is very broad, and made with one large, and several small clasps. In both winter and summer they have a large goat-skin cloak, striped in black

and white. On their heads they have only a red cap, surrounded with a piece of cloth of the same colour, or mixed with white.

The princes also wear the same dress; their cloak only is different, being almost always black. Their drawers are of linen, and reach to the lower part of the leg. They wear slippers when at home, and half-boots for riding. The labourers wear sandals.

The dress of Arabs of distinction in Yemen consists of a pair of wide cotton drawers, with a shirt over them. The cutlass is suspended to a broad girdle,

and they have a vest with tight sleeves, surmounted by another that is large and flowing. They have no

stockings, only slippers or half-boots. In Niebuhr's "Travels" the dress of the Iman of Sana is thus described: "His gown was of a bright green colour, and had large sleeves; on each side of his breast was a rich filleting of gold lace, and on his head he wore a great gold turban."

All Arabians of rank have one curious addition to their dress. It is a piece of fine linen upon the shoulder, which, probably, was formerly intended to keep off the heat of the sun, but is now used only as

an ornament.

Carreri states, that the Arabian women wear black

masks, with elegant little clasps; and Niebuhr mentions their shewing but one eye in conversation. In Moore, also, we find these lines:

"And veil'd by such a mask as shades
The features of young Arab maids,
A mask that leaves but one eye free
To do its best in witchery."

In many parts of Arabia the women wear little looking-glasses on their thumbs. All the women of the East are particularly fond of being able to gaze upon their own fair countenances, and seldom go without a looking-glass.

The Arabian princesses wear golden rings on their fingers, to which little bells are suspended, as well as in the flowing tresses of their hair, that their superior rank may be known, and they may receive the homage due to them. The following lines of L. E. L. might serve for the description of an Arabian princess:

"Her silken hair, that, glossy black,

But only to be found

There, or upon the raven's back,

Falls sweeping to the ground.
'Tis parted in two shining braids.
With silver and with gold,
And one large pearl by contrast aids
The darkness of each fold.

Close to her throat the silvery vest
By shining clasps is bound;
Scarce may her graceful shape be guess'd,

'Mid drapery floating round.

Upon the ankle and the wrist

There is a band of gold,

No step by Grecian fountain kiss'd
Was of diviner mould.

I I

In the bright girdle round her waist,
Where the red rubies shine,

The kandjar's glittering hilt is placed,
To mark her royal line."

And with these graphic verses will we terminate our account of the Toilette in Arabia; and, at the same time, close our "Book of Costume," in the hope that it may be found useful and interesting to the many readers who require general information on the subject.

THE END.

LONDON:

Printed by George Barclay, Castle Street, Leicester Square.