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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[ NOVEMBER, 1921
undergoes no change throughout the year. Even when the thermometer stands at 40° F., small Marsh Arabs can be seen without clothes, and older ones are still protected only by the same clothes which they wear in summer. One is forced to conclude that weak children die carly, and only the most robust survive.
Masculine adornment confines itself to tattooing (Ar. Washm) with indigo (Ar. Nili) and to plaiting of the hair. The amount and the design of the tattooing appears to depend upon individual preference and not upon tribal custom: it usually consists of a few spots or a short line or two in front of the ears and a rather more complicated pattern on the upper surfine of the wrists and on the outside of the leg above the ankles. Occasionally. also there may be a spot, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, of indigo on the chin or forehead. The hair is plaited into two plaits (Ar. Jadaila, pl. Jadail) which hang in front on either side of the head. Their ends are kept fastened with a piece of rag or twine, or left unfastened. Henna is not used. The women generally are tattooed rather more than the men, and it is the rule to see handsome features marred with two or three spots of indigo. The women usually divide their hair into a number of small plaits, and attach to the end of each coloured wooden beads, coins, or charms. These wooden beads exactly resemble those usually employed on an abacus Pythagoricus (counting machine), and are most frequently coloured red or yellow. It is most usual to see about half a dozen hanging on either side of the head. When coins are worn, they are attached to the ends of the rows of wooden beads. The favourite coins employed are the rup ee, the rial (the Maria Theresa dollar) and the two-kran piece. The first is the standard of currency in 'Iraq, and is worth a the present time (January 1921) about one shilling and six pence; the second is Arabian currency and is worth about three shillings; and the last is Persian currency and is worth about one shilling. Glass jewellery of Austrian manufacture, especially talisraans on which are inscribed Qoranic texts, often replace or supplement the coins. The whole of this adornt ment which is worn about the ear is known as Shaiyala, pl. Shaiyalát. Rarely is seen a nose-ring, made of brass, silver, or copper wire, generally supporting a cheap tur. quoise. The ring is passed through the right or left ala nasi, never through the septum ; we have seen both alae so adorned. The nose-ring is much more common amongst the ricc-cultivating Arabs than amongst the marsh dwellers. The women occasionally wear cheap finger-rings (Ar. Mahbas, pl. Mahabis).
The food of Marsh Ara be is very simple. The chief meal of the day is eaten at sun. down and consists of boiled rice over which is poured hot clarified butter. There may be added fish or fowl. The early morning and the midday mcals consist of unleavened bread (Ar. Khoba:) made of great millet. It is baked in thick, flat loaves on an iron plate over a fire of reeds or buffalo dung. They cook fish by splitting it open and propping it on a reed: they heat it with burning reeds held in the hand. Barley bread is seldom eaten and wheaten bread not at all. Water is the only drink of most Marsh Arabs: there are but few of the more wealthy individuals who can ever afford the luxury of tea or coffee. We have heard of certain of the marsh plants being eaten as a sort of salad, but were not able to identify them. The central and subaquaeous part of the stem of the young reed is sweet and succulent and sonetimes is caten.
The only definite case of disease amongst Marsh Arabs which has come under our notice is that of one old man who was suffering from hæmorrhoids, but other diseases amongst them are to be expected. Major S. R. Christophers, C.I.E., I.M.S., has examined the spleens of children at 'Azair (Ezra's Tomb), Qarna, and at various villages on the
