Alma, Alme, Almai, or Almeh

[Ar., probably corrupted from alimah, the feminine form of the active participle âlim, learned.] The name given by the modern Egyptians and Arabs to the dancing and singing girls of Egypt. They form a particular cla or society, living together in bands, who are distributed in the various towns, or travel about the country in quest of employment. They are present at all festivals and mar Fig. 89.AN ALMA. (Egyptian dancing-girl.) riages, and other ceremonies. The girls who are admitted into this society have generally a fine voice. But they chiefly excel in pantomimic dances, which represent the various incidents of life, and above all, the pa ion of love. The supplene of their bodies is very great, as well as the flexibility and expre ion of their features; but the indecency of their attitudes is exce ive. These A. are admitted into the harems of the great, where they instruct the women in dancing and singing, or amuse them by reciting poems. The Turks, enemies as they are to the fine arts, pa whole nights in listening to them. The A. also accompany funerals, at which they sing dirges, and utter groans and lamentations. The higher and more accomplished cla of the A. attend none but wealthy people, and their price is high. The common people, however. have also their A. , who try to imitate the superior cla , but have neither their elegance, grace, nor knowledge. They are seen everywhere; the public squares and walks around Cairo abound with them. Their morals are as licentious as their songs; they are, in fact, the common courtesans of the country. Although there are A. in Syria and other parts of the Ottoman empire, yet Egypt seems to have been at all times their favorite, and, as it were, their native country. The Bayaderes, or Nautch girls of India, are a sort of Alme . See ALMAH. Al'ma, a small river in the Crimea, near which a great battle was fought, Sept. 20th, 1854, between the allied French and English, and the Ru ian armies. After a fearful struggle of three hours' duration, the Ru ians were driven from their intrenchments with a lo of 6,000 men. The English lost 2,000, and the French 1,400 men in killed and wounded. Al'ma, in llinois, a post-village of Marion co., about 20 m. N.N.E. of Central i a, Al'ma, in Kansas, a city and township of Wabaunsee co., 36 m. W. by S. of Topeka. Pop., 1,125. Al'ma, or ALMY, in Michigan, a post-village of Gratiot co., on Pine river, 7 m. N. N.W. of Ithaca. Alma, in New York, a township of of Alleghany co.; has considerable manufacturing industry. Alma, in Wisconsin , a city, capital of Buffalo county, on the Mi i ippi river, near the mouth of the Buffalo river. A. is also the name of the twp. A. enjoys considerable reputation in the making of wagons, brick, etc. -A township of Jackson co., on Black river, Almacan'tar, or ALMA CANTER, n. ( Ast . ) An Arabic term formerly employed in astronomy. The name is given to all the small circles parallel to the horizon; 80 that two stars which have the same almacantar have the same altitude. A. would now be called a circle of altitude, in the same way as a small circle parallel to the equator, all whose points have therefore the same declination, is called a circle of declination. Al'mad a, a town of Portugal, prov. of Estremadura, on the Tagus, opposite to Lisbon; pop. 3,500, Almaden', a town of Spain, prov. of La Mancha, in the Sierra Morena, 57 m. W.S.W. of Ciudad Real; pop . 8,645. Near the town is a famous mine of quicksilver. Almaden', in California , a twp. of Santa Clara co.; immense quantities of quicksilver are found here. Al'madie, or ALMADY, n. [Fr., from Ar. al - madiyat , a raft.] ( Naut .) A bark canoe used by the Africans. -A long-boat used at Calicut, in India, 80 feet long, and 6 or 7 feet broad; called also Cathuri. Al'magell, Pa or, the highest mountain-pa in Europe, being 11,663 feet above the level of the sea. It is between the valleys Visp and Zermatt, in the Valais, Switzerland.