"Blue Arabs"
I've been reading"Huck Finn" with my sophomores for over ten years and we've been mystified by the scene where Jim's face is painted blue to accompany the"sick Arab" sign. Recently, during a presentation on the Crusades, a slide was shown. An Arab with a blue face was contending with a crusader. Can you or anyone shed some light on whatever connection there may be here?
The only book I have on hand on the Crusades is Runciman's splendid history, but I find nothing helpful there. Any answers to Mr. McDaniel's query?