Page 230 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XI.] COAST OF ARABIA. 211

the sides hanging down, with knotted strings
appended to them, serving by their motion to
keep off the flies, which are here excessively
troublesome.
The women entirely conceal their faces with
a veil of coloured transparent muslin, and
envelop their persons in a loose wrapper of
blue cotton, which, covering the head and
shoulders, extends down to the feet. They
have the reputation of being fair and hand­
some.
The females of Egypt are remarkable for
utter profligacy of morals; they intrigue
openly and indiscriminately with Moham­

medan, Jew, and Gentile. Not so the Arab
women in Jiddah and other towns on the Red
Sea, who are comparatively virtuous ; that is,
their favours are not usually extended to
any except those of the true faith. Devia­
tions from this principle, nevertheless, occur.
During one of my visits to that town, a
Frenchman attached to the Pasha’s army
was surprised by the husband of his para­
mour: he contrived, notwithstanding, to escape
from the house, and, mounted on a swift horse,

succeeded in reaching Mecca, where, by pro-
p 2