I was
shown also the caparisons of velvet, sumptuously embroidered with gold
and silver, for six horses, with which he appeared in state when a new
sovereign was to be proclaimed in Granada and Seville; the count
mounting one of the horses, and the other five being led by lackeys in
rich liveries.
I had hoped to find among the relics and antiquities of the
count's palace, some specimens of the armor and weapons of the Moors
of Granada, such as I had heard were preserved as trophies by the
descendants of the Conquerors; but in this I was disappointed. I was
the more curious in this particular, because an erroneous idea has
been entertained by many, as to the costumes of the Moors of Spain;
supposing them to be of the usual oriental type. On the contrary, we
have it on the authority of their own writers, that they adopted in
many respects the fashions of the Christians. The turban,
especially, so identified in idea with the Moslem, was generally
abandoned, except in the western provinces, where it continued in
use among people of rank and wealth, and those holding places under
government. A woollen cap, red or green, was commonly worn as a
substitute; probably the same kind originating in Barbary, and known
by the name of Tunis or Fez, which at the present day is worn
throughout the east; though generally under the turban. The Jews
were obliged to wear them of a yellow color.
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