. Nineveh and Babylon : a narrative of a second expedition to Assyria during the years 1849, 1850, & 1851. asmother described the various marriage ceremonies of thetribe. Our account of similar matters in Europe excitedgreat amusement amongst the ladies. The Milli girls arehighly prized by the Kurds. Twenty purses, nearly loo/.,we were boastingly told, had been given for one of unusualattractions. The chief pointed out one of his own wiveswho liad cost him that sum. Other members of the same VI.] TATOOING OF KURDISH WOMEN. 149 establishment had deserved a less extravagant investiture ofmoney.
. Nineveh and Babylon : a narrative of a second expedition to Assyria during the years 1849, 1850, & 1851. asmother described the various marriage ceremonies of thetribe. Our account of similar matters in Europe excitedgreat amusement amongst the ladies. The Milli girls arehighly prized by the Kurds. Twenty purses, nearly loo/.,we were boastingly told, had been given for one of unusualattractions. The chief pointed out one of his own wiveswho liad cost him that sum. Other members of the same VI.] TATOOING OF KURDISH WOMEN. 149 establishment had deserved a less extravagant investiture ofmoney. The prettiest girls were called before us, and theold lady appraised each, amidst the loud laughter of theircompanions, who no doubt rejoiced to see their friends valuedat their true worth. They were all tatooed on the arms, andon other parts of the body, but less so than the Bedouinladies. The operation is performed by Arab women, whowander from tent to tent for the purpose. Several werepresent, and wished to give us an immediate proof of theirskill upon ourselves. We declined, however. It is usually. Women of the Milli Tribe, done at the age of six or seven: the punctures are made bya needle, and the blue colour is produced by a mixture ofgunpowder and indigo rubbed into the wounds. The pro-cess is tedious and painful, as the designs are frequentlymost elaborate, covering the whole body. The Kurdishladies do not, like the Mussulman women of the towns, con-ceal their faces; nor do they object to mingle, or even eat,with the men. During my stay at Umjerjeh I invited theharem of the Chichi chief, and their friends, to a feast in my ISO NINEVEH AND BABYLON. [Chap. tent—an invitation they accepted with every sign of satis-faction. We had an excellent dinner in the salamlik, varied bymany savoury dishes and delicacies sent from the harem:such as truffles, dressed in different ways, several preparationsof milk and cream, honey, curds, &c. After we had retired,the other guests were
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