_The Gazel_ (antelope).—The gazel is that pretty light and elegant animal, swift as the wind, timid as a virgin, with a soft, beautiful, large, and prominent black eye, which seems to interest you in its favour. In its general appearance, the gazel resembles our deer; it is however much smaller, and has straight black horns, curving a little backwards. The eye and figure of the gazel, so well known to all Arabian poets, are emblematical of beauty, and the greatest compliment that can be paid to a beautiful women, is to compare her eyes to those of the gazel.[78] Much art is employed by the Arabian females to make their eyes appear like those of this delicate animal. Eyes originally black and lively, are made to appear larger and more languishing by tinging the outer corner with _El kahol Filelly_, a preparation of lead ore procured from Tafilelt, which gives an apparent elongation to the eye. The eye-lashes and eye-brows being also blackened with this composition, they appear peculiarly soft and languishing; it is said also to improve and strengthen the sight. Every one who has accurately observed the eye of the African gazel will acquiesce in the aptness of the simile before alluded to. The word _angel_, so often employed by our poets to designate a beautiful female, is, with the Arabs, transformed to gazel: thus the Arabian sonnet; ڧل الغزالِ راكَ خليتني نرجاكَ كيڢ اَلما مُل معاك اش حليتيِ و اش عماليِ رڢڧي بالي يهواك يا تاَج اَلريام غزالِ Kul el _gazelli_ râk Kulitini nerjak Kif el m’ amul mak Ash heliti wa ash amelli Rafki billi ihuak Ia taj miriamme _gazelli_, Say, thou _Antelope_ in beauty, Since permitted to return, Say, what is a lover’s duty, Who with ardent fire doth burn. Sympathize with him who loves you, Crown of all my hopes and joys, ’Tis your constant swain approves you, His _Gazel_ all his soul employs.