Fwd: Teffi in 1919, on a boat between Odessa and Sebastopol

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

I am hoping that someone’s knowledge of Arabic, Turkish, or some other language may help them to guess the meaning of Гюзель Каре? The Africans (almost certainly Moroccan soldiers recently sent to Odessa as a part of a French intervention there)  are on another boat with which Teffi’s boat almost collides in the fog.  I very much regret that there is implicit racism in Teffi’s description of these Moroccans and apologize for inflicting this on the list.
И вдруг прямо перед моим лицом заколыхался туман, поплыл быстро, как театральная декоративная кисея, раздернулся в разные стороны, и — странный сон — ярко-красные фески, близко-близко от меня, я бы могла достать их рукой — черные рожи, глаза, как крутое яйцо с желтым припеком, яростной улыбкой оскаленные зубы. Я даже отшатнулась. Для них этот разорвавшийся туман, видно, тоже был чудом. Они кинулись к борту, замахали руками, загалдели что-то вроде:

«Гюзель Каре! Каре гюзель!..»

Еще и еще красные фески, белки, руки, зубы…

И вдруг это маленькое «окошко в Африку» помутнело, потускнело и мгновенно задернулось наплывшим туманом.

— Ч-черт! — раздался голос около меня. — Едва не наскочили…

Ревела сирена, и дрожал пароход тихой, мелкой дрожью.

Here is one response I have already received:
Guzel is the Persisn word meaning Beauty, which exists in Turkic languages too. In Persian and Uzbek it's pronounced Go'zal, whereas Turks pronounce it Guzel. The way it's pronounced in this instance is very Turkish one, which makes me think that they were speaking Turkish, saying: Look, beauty, beauty, look! Since all North Africa was at that time a part of the Osmanic empire, it's quite probable that they were speaking their common language. 
By Guzel I'm pretty sure that they were speaking Turkish. The only problem is the word Kare. Turks use not Kara - look, but Bak. Kari is also a spouse, but they wouldn't, call her a spouse. Kara is also black. They might've referred to themselves, saying how beautiful they are. But most probably they said Guzel kadin, beautiful woman, which was misheard. In any case they were amazed by her beauty.

All the best,

Robert
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