George Walker at Suez (ePub)

The door had been opened by the man in an old dressing-gown and slippers, whom I had seen sitting inside the gate. He was the Arab porter of the hotel, and as he marshaled the new visitors into the room, I heard him pronounce some sound similar to my own name, and perceived that he pointed me out to the most prominent person of those who then entered the apartment. This was a stout, portly man, dressed from head to foot in Eastern costume of the brightest colors. He wore not only the red fez cap which everybody wears-even I had accustomed myself to a fez cap-but a turban round it, of which the voluminous folds were snowy white. His face was fat, but not the least grave, and the lower part of it was enveloped in a magnificent beard, which projected round it on all sides, and touched his breast as he walked. It was a grand grizzled beard, and I acknowledged at a moment that it added a singular dignity to the appearance of the stranger. His flowing robe was of bright colors, and the under garment which fitted close round his breast, and then descended, becoming beneath his sash a pair of the loosest pantaloons-I might, perhaps, better describe them as bags-was a rich tawny silk. These loose pantaloons were tied close round his legs, above the ankle, and over a pair of scrupulously white stockings, and on his feet he wore a pair of yellow slippers. It was obvious to me at a glance that the Arab gentleman had got up in his best raiment, and that no expense had been spared on his suit.