Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/226

210 comforting thought that I was becoming a rather skilled fisherman, the ladies disturbed me by laughing at my troubled and anxious expression.

"What seemed very strange to me was that the host sat near by but not at our table, directed the serving of the meal, inspected all dishes before they were put before us and solemnly nodded his head and clapped his hands whenever we had finished a course. Several times, having remarked that I was not eating or, at least, not eating enough to satisfy mine host, he turned to me and asked through the interpreter if the dish did not please me. Again I felt a nudge from my neighbor and heard whispered advice to make believe and not to disappoint the good old cadi In spite of this seeming lapse on my part, we were all very gay and were enjoying ourselves tremendously.

"The third dish was roast mutton, so tender that I easily succeeded in plucking off some enjoyable morsels, while the Arab students made havoc of the rich dish, loudly smacking their lips and drinking a great deal of water, that was served us in immense glasses. Personally I was afraid of the water, as it was of a yellowish, muddy hue and seemed redolent of typhoid.

"Following all this, we were next served kouskous with raisins, hard-boiled eggs and the inevitable mutton. To my joy we were given spoons, though I was surprised to see the Arabs continue to use their fingers, deftly rolling the gruel into small balls that held together long enough to make the journey to their mouths. Then came the dessert—luscious grapes of every shade and nearly as large as plums. At last a gilded basin and ewer were