all cases they are supposed to have the monopoly of the flat roof, the
courteous male foreigner will keep his gaze from wandering thither too
frequently, or resting there too long.

Do not be surprised if you are ushered into an apparently empty room,
furnished after the Moorish manner with a strip of richly coloured
carpet down the centre, and mattresses round the edge. If there is a
musical box in the room, it will doubtless be set going as a pleasant
accompaniment to conversation, and the same applies to striking or
chiming clocks, for which the Moors have a strong predilection as
_objets d'art_, rather than to mark the march of time.

Of course you will not have forgotten to remove your shoes at the
door, and will be sitting cross-legged and quite at ease on one of
the immaculate mattresses, when the ladies begin to arrive from their
retreats. As they step forward to greet you, you may notice their
henna-stained feet, a means of decoration which is repeated on their
hands, where it is sometimes used in conjunction with harkos, a black
pigment with which is applied a delicate tracery giving the effect of
black silk mittens. The dark eyes are made to appear more lustrous
and almond-shaped by the application of antimony, and the brows are
extended till they meet in a black line above the nose. The hair
is arranged under a head-dress frequently composed of two
bright-coloured, short-fringed silk handkerchiefs, knotted together
above the ears, sometimes with the addition of an artificial flower:
heavy ear-rings are worn, and from some of them there are suspended
large silver hands, charms against the "evil eye." But undoubtedly the
main feature of the whole costume is the kaftán or tunic of lustrous
satin or silk, embroidered richly in gold and silver, of a colour
showing to advantage beneath a white lace garment of similar shape.