STREET CRIES OF THE EAST.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2285, 19 February 1912, Page 2

STREET CRIES OF THE EAST.

The East, particularly that part of it known as the "Near East," is th« very home of flowery and figurative language. In Palestine, for instance, a knowledge of colloquial Arabic soon makes one delightfully familiar with the fact that the ordinary everyday conversation of the poorest and most illiteiate of the people, who can neither read nor write, and who have not the scientific knowledge of a welltaught English child of seven, a bounds in idioms, which, in the West would be consrtdeced not unworthy of a great poet. To one who has been accustomed to listen daily to the street cries of Damascus and other Palestine cities, with an understanding and appreciative ear, the coarse, blatant outcries of our far more highly educated street hawkers strike a note of painful discord upon an organ that has been rendered somewhat aesthetic in its tastes.

In imaginative contrast one pictures the sellers of cakes winding his way in and out of the motley crowd, and hears him calling out " Dainty morsels, buy, Oye children." In his footsteps follows the purveyor of sweetmeats announcing his wares by " Peace to the throat, palm candy." Surrounded by a group of closelj veiled women is the Beller of henna, the yellowish brown stain that is used, according to Eastern ideas, for the purpose of beautifying the nails. A momentary lull in the hum of conversation allows his words to reach me.

" 0, henna, henna, fragrance of the fifth paradise ! flowerß of henna, buy ye," and in close proximity to him, probably with the hope of claiming the attention of some of his neighbour's fair customers is the vendor of roses, which are to be distilled for perfume. He is crying aloud, " Roses, roses of many odours." The old woman with water creeses and lily roots chants in quavering tones " Daughters of the river—buy them, 0 buy them." Balancing a tray of loaves comes the baker, proclaiming, " 0 Thou all bountiful ! fresh, sweet bread, 0 Allah. O Thou all bountiful !" While be with the melons raises his voice above the surrounding clamour of barter. " O melon pips, comforter of the mournful." The water seller trundles along the narrow passages with skins slung across his lean shoulders his little copper drinking cups tinkling, as he appeals to the passers-by, "0 ye thirsty ones, come to the water " or quotes what is calculated to touch the hearts of most Moslems ; a verse from the Koran which holds forth promise of Paradise to those who give a cup of cold water to the thirsty. The olive skinned maiden with a basket of luscious dark mulberries on her head thus commends them, " Sweet, sweet and black a r e my mulberries," then sarcastically adds "Now shall h'yalaweh (sweetmeat) sellers die "; that is for lack of customers to buy their wares now that she has brought her mulberries. From another fruit stall you may hear equally figurative language : *• Dates, dates of the heart ! but not for the avaricious," while stoneless rais'ns are offered as "Daughters of Damascus"; and grapes with a poetic recommendation after this style. "Oh, how often have the doves made their nest among them ! they are what men call maiden's cheeks."

The very beggar calls out '' Charity God will repay it." You give him a coin, and he expresses his gratification by Baying "May thy mouth be always filled with sugar." If you turn away from his appeal, 50U answer in the same quaint manner, " Pass on, God will give thee." This highly tropical language meets you everywhere, even on the most prosaic occasions, but more particularly when an Oriental feels deeply. The humblest and poorest of the people when they have occasion to administer a veiled, delicate but forcible reproof, will speak to you in parables and that often with great readme** and'exquisite skill. Truly has the poet said—- " Bast is East, and West is West, And never the twain shall meet."-* " Weekly Telegraph."