Troops Learned Cultural Differences

Adopt his table manners and —always with your right hand —dip into the tasty, fluffy green dish called couscous, leaving something in the bowl for the women and children who will be served later. Accept three cups of mint-flavored tea, but never a fourth.Be generous with your cigarettes, it will be much appreciated.

U.S. Troops, When Entering a Yard, Must Call to Women to Put On Their Veils — Told Table Etiquette— 

Should Dip Into Dish of Couscous With Right Hand When Eating With Arabs

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 — The strict rules of etiquette governing social relations in Africa, particularly as regards the conduct of men toward women, were compressed into a forty-two-page booklet issued to our soldiers in Morocco and Algiers, which was summarized today in a description issued by the War Department. (A dispatch from North Africa last month told of the issuance of the booklet.)

The book emphatically warns soldiers about the necessity of showing complete respect for the religion of Islam and cautioned them against arguments about religion. As for standard etiquette, the book contains the following advice:
“Serious injury, if not death at the hands of Muslim men, may result if these few rules in regard to their women folk are not obeyed: 

• Never stare at one. 
• Never jostle her in a crowd. 
• Never speak to her in public. 
• Never try to remove the veil.

“When dining with a Muslim host: 

• Adopt his table manners and —always with your right hand —dip into the tasty, fluffy green dish called couscous, leaving something in the bowl for the women and children who will be served later. 
• Accept three cups of mint-flavored tea, but never a fourth.
• Be generous with your cigarettes, it will be much appreciated.

“When you shop:

• Bargain for all you're worth, but politely. 
• Try to learn to talk to the North Africans in Arabic; they will like you for it, no matter how poorly you pronounce it. 
• When you are about to enter a house or yard, call out to the women ‘Taghattu,’ which means ‘Cover up!’

“Watch out for:

• Lice, scorpions, cobras, asps and too much sunburn.
• Shake hands gently with North Africans. 
• Never strike one; while no bruisers, they're handy with knives. 
• Never give Muslims alcoholic drinks or pork. 
• Don't bring a dog into the house. 

“Remember that people whose customs and conduct differ from your own, are not to be regarded as queer.” — The New York times, 1942

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia