THE MOOR AT HOME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 281, 21 November 1908, Page 3

THE MOOR AT HOME

_To understand the .\loor you mast visit Morocco ami live with him. Oikc you have broken bread with him he cornea your true friend lor life, lint should you make an enemy of him be-

ware. He does not belong to this age of hustle and bustle. To the Moor, suea a thing as being in a hurry is (june ira-l known, and he that walks when he might ride is looked upon as a foo:. The one great motive of tile Moor ito take lile easy—let the fools and .lews hurry if they like. The house of the

Moor is his easttle, and is buiil for de lent-e. There are uo windows oil th. outside, a;ul the walls are covered will: white plaster ; the only entrance is In means of a massive gateway, with, as 1 rule, a pair of stout woodeii doors. T'lu rooms are dark, long, aiul rather nar row : as a rule possibly thirty feet i. length nine feet wide and perhaps a dozen feet in height. Screened from tile sua they are cool and refreshful ; auu when furnished with soft carpets and comfortable divan.-:, invite repose as readily as they suggest luxury. The house is built round tne garden or coun yard, which is tiled in etiessboard fashion, witli black and white or blue anil white tiles. In the centre is a fountain surrounded by palms or cactus. Tin windows of the house open upon the courtyard, which, having no 1001, allows plenty ot light to tiUcr through tin greeu-shutteicd windows. A balcony, supported by u row of stone pillars, runs round tne inside of the courtyard, and serves as a shelter from suu auu rain ; sometimes a net is stretched across the top of the courtyard to allow creepers to twine round the stone eo.11111113 or pillars, and, climbing up, make a roof of green, which atlorils cool ami welcome shelter from the hea* w the noonday sua.

A favorite drink among the Moors is mint tea; and very pleasant it is, too. it is made of Chinese green tea in the ordinary way, with a spray of jresli mint added, together witn a very large quantity of sugar. For those who like a sweet drink it can be recommended. Jt is served in glasses. When a Aloor wishes to show marked attention to a European, the tray is often supplemented by a bottle or two of stout ami a flask of whisky; although, of course, the Moor himself will not partake of either beverage. After these refreshments have been removed, keef pipes arc produced. Keef is not unlike the hemp smoked by the Zulus in South Afriea, and five or six pipes would soon render one unused to it intoxicated, though the bowl oi the pipe is not anylarger than a thimble cut in half. After this, a large round table, supported by six short legs, each about a foot long, is produced. Every one sits down cross-legged around this table, in the centre which rests a large earthenware bowl, or dish, with a cover of plaited straw resembling a beehive in shape. A slave removes the cover, and discloses to view what looks like yellowish rice, piled up in a beehive shaped heap :n the centre of the dish. This dish is called " koos koos," and into it everyone thrust his hands, after Allah lias been first duly praised according to the Moorish custom, and conveys handfuls to his mouth, as if life itself depended on getting through with the oily looking concoction in as short a time as possible. It is composed of meal, sugar, young birds of many kinds, eggs, olives, and many other ingredients, and suggests nothing so much as a sticky dip at a country fair. Now and then the hosts will thrust in his hands and bring forth an extra, choice morsel, which he will very kindly insist upon his guests eating. As soon as a huge dish has been emptied, another spring up in its place; and between each of the courses, of which there are usually more than twenty, a slave passes round a low table with a large brass bowl, a towel, and a can of water in which everyone washes his hands, arms, and mouth in turn, all using the same towel. As soon as the last course is finished, Allah is again praised, and the dinner ends amid the efforts of all who are present to belch louder than his neighbour, as a sign of inward satisfaction and outward appreciation of the hospitality displayed.