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bright yellow color. It was very pretty. Bread was laid on
the cloth underneath the stool. A large wooden spoon for each
individual was laid on the salver. We were invited to eat.
We endeavored to set ourselves on the floor beside the low
stool. I think our awkwardness excited our hosts pity for
he ordered a servant to bring cushions for us to sit on.
All ate from the same dish reaching from one dish to another each
using their own spoon. The Turk ate with us but his
wife sat directly behind him and occasionally he gave
her a taste from his spoon. I suppose in honor of we females as
their women are not allowed to eat with the men.

After we finished eating the wife ate. He then went to
his prayers, and we went with the lady to her apartment
and talked with what little Arabic we knew. Mary sang
some of our popular songs which pleased the women very
much, and when in her sweet voice she sang that pathetic
song, “Give me three grains of corn mother,” although the women
did not understand the words the sad air caused them
to weep. At dusk the Turk mounted his beautiful