Proceedings of the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa [1790]Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa
History
Proceedings of the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa [1790]
Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa
Africa -- Description and travel
The dress of the inhabitants of Fezzan is similar to that of the Moors
of Barbary. The immediate covering of the body consists of a pair
of large trowsers, of linen or cloth, which descends to the small of
the leg, and of a shirt, which is wide in the sleeves, but close at
the breast, and the skirts of which hang over and conceal the upper
part of the trowsers. Next to the shirt is worn a kind of waistcoat,
which in shape resembles the shirt, except that it has no sleeves,
and that it reaches no lower than the waist; and to the waistcoat is
superadded a jacket, with tight sleeves which extend to the wrist,
but which are left unbuttoned and open from the wrist almost to the
elbow. Thus far their dress may be said to be similar to that of a
British seaman, its colour excepted, and except too, that the shirt
is not open at the breast, that the waistcoat is not fastened with
buttons, but is put on like the shirt, and that the bottom of the
shirt hangs down on the outside of the trowsers.
Over the jacket is worn a loose robe, which reaches below the knee,
and the sleeves of which, though wider than those of the jacket,
are made in the same form, and, like them, are left open at the wrist.
A girdle of crimson silk binds the robe to the waist; and a long
cloth (called a barakan or alhaique) of the shape of a Highlander’s
plaid, and worn in the same way, is thrown over the whole. The legs,
as far as the calves, to which the trowsers descend, are covered with
a kind of short stockings, which are made of leather, and are laced
like the half boot of an Englishman. The feet are accommodated with
slippers; and the head is protected by a red woollen cap, which is
incircled by the folds of a silk or muslin turban.
Ample as this cloathing may appear, the further provision of a long
cloak with a large hood is often considered as requisite. It is called
a burnoose, and in fine weather is usually carried on the shoulder.
Such, when complete, is the dress of the inhabitants of Fezzan. But in
the Summer months the common people have no other covering than the
drawers, which decency requires; and the caps, which protect their
heads from the immediate action of the sun, for in other respects
their bodies are compleatly naked.
Nature and custom have formed their constitutions to such high
degrees of heat, that any approach to the common temperament of Europe
entirely destroys their comfort; for Mr. LUCAS often observed, in his
journey to Mesurata, that when the scorching heat of the noon-day
beams had compelled him to seek the shade, his fellow-travellers,
especially if the wind was in the North, laid themselves down,
upon the sand in the open sun, in order to receive a double portion
of his warmth; and when, as their custom was, they enquired after
his health, they, almost always, concluded with the expression,
“_Heack m’andick berd_,” we hope you are not cold.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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