The women themselves realize that such fine feathers must be guarded
from spot or stain, for they are in many cases family heir-looms, so
after they have greeted you with a slight pressure of their finger
tips laid upon yours, and taken their seats, tailor fashion, you will
notice that each sedulously protects her knees with a rough Turkish
towel, quite possibly the worse for wear. In spite of her love for
personal decoration, evidenced by the strings of pearls with which her
neck is entwined, and the heavy silver armlets, the well-bred Moorish
woman evinces no more curiosity than her European sister about the
small adornments of her visitor, and this is the more remarkable when
you remember how destitute of higher interests is her life. She will
make kindly and very interested inquiries about your relatives, and
even about your life, though naturally, in spite of your explanations,
it remains a sealed book to her. The average Moorish woman, however,
shows herself as inquisitive as the Chinese.

It is quite possible that you may see some of the children,
fascinating, dark-eyed, soft-skinned morsels of humanity, with
henna-dyed hair, which may be plaited in a pig-tail, the length of
which is augmented by a strange device of coloured wool with which the
ends of the hair are interwoven. But children of the better class in
Morocco are accustomed to keep in the background, and unless invited,
do not venture farther than the door of the reception room, and then
with a becoming modesty. If any of the slave-wives enter, you will
have an opportunity of noticing their somewhat quaint greeting of
those whom they desire to honour, a kiss bestowed on each hand, which
they raise to meet their lips, and upon each shoulder, before they,
too, take their seats upon the mattresses.