Page 398 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

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XVIII.] BERBERA. 371 i
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§
the women wear a piece of tanned hide round
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their waist; to which is added a smaller apron %
of the same material, suspended by loops over
the shoulder to conceal their breasts. The I
hair of the men is frizzled into large ringlets,
several of which hang on either side of the I
%
face. The hair left in the middle is also &
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frizzled and raised by the same means, the I
whole being anointed with large quantities £
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of mutton fat. Through the upper part they
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thrust a straight piece of wood, resembling in •x'
form and size a skewer, which serves the m
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double purpose of a comb, and also as an in­
strument for adjusting their curls *.
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During the Elphinstone’s stay at Berbera,
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skirmishes among the various tribes assembled
were very frequent, though commonly origi­
nating from trifling causes: thus, a man de­ I
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tected in purloining a camel or sheep from an­
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other horde, was not unfrequently wounded in
the attempt; and this was sufficient to prompt
both sides to take up the quarrel. These
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battles usually took place outside the town ;
when the respective combatants traversed in

* Some further notice of this singular race will be given here­
after. I have met them frequently at Mokha and Macullah.
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