He descends [his hand into the communal dish] like a crow’s foot and ascends like a camel’s hoof. (Said of an ill-bred person affecting refined manners)
-Arabic Proverbs, 1830, J.L. Burckhardt
Burckhardt must have shared many a bowl with those who daintily dipped in their fingers and pulled out the mutton. And just so ate I at the beginning of each meal, pulling out not mutton, for there was none at our dinner, but rather as much pepper sauce as my fingers could sop, because there is nothing worse than when your side of the aseeda dish has only millet and the man squatting opposite has all the gravy.