Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

32
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
of a very deep orange, with the dried leaves, diluted with water,
of the henna, or Egyptian privet (lewsonia inermis, Lin.), a large
$hrub, which is much cultivated both in Turkey and in Egypt for
this purpose.
The 7\irkish females always walk abroad by themselves ;
in fine
weather they resort to some favourite spot without the towns, oc-
cupy the banks, or seat themselves on the tomb-stones in their ce-
meteries, .where they sit quietly for hours together. They appear to
lead a most indolent life; their recreations and exercises being ex-
tremely limited.
The Greek women have the face, which is beautiful and of an
oval form, uncovered. Their eyes are black, as are also their eye-
brows, to which, as well as to their eyelids, they pay a particular
attention, rubbing them over, to bestow on them a deeper hue, with
a leaden ore reduced to an impalpable powder, blended with an
unctuous matter to give it consistence. Their complexion is generally
pale. They wear their hair, which is of a great length, and
of a deep shining black, in tresses, and sometimes turned back in a
fanciful way on the head. In other instances it hangs loosely down
the back, extending to the hips. They are commonly dressed in a
pelice of silk, satin, or some other material:
they
are in their
costly
attire, in the choice of which they are not attached to any particular
colour. On the head they wear a small cap. The dress of the
men nearly resembles that of the Turks; but they are not allowed
to wear the kowouk, or turban of white muslin, for which thev
are obliged to substitute the calpac, or blue turban, and none of the
Greeks can wear yellow boots or slippers, except those who are in
the service of the foreign ministers, &c.
The Greek women marry at about the age of fifteen: they are
short lived. At twenty-five they wrinkle and decay, bearing the
appearance altogether of old women. They have fine children,
who, however, partake of the palid complexion of the mothers.
It is unquestionably to the too frequent use of the warm bath, to
which the Greek women are so much habituated, that their very
relaxed and debilitated state is to be ascribed; and this abuse, added
to their natural indolence and their inaction, as certainly tends to
shorten their lives.
During courtship, the Greek lover serenades his mistress either
in front of her house, or from the water. On these occasions he
recites in a pathetic song, the warmth and sincerity of his passion,
$tc. These nocturnal serenades, which are devoted to love, are so