DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4647#0018
DRESS—FEMALE ORNAMENTS. lJ
down from the back of the neck between the shoulders.
On the arms, immediately above the elbow, they wear
a pair of armlets of brass, those of the right arm being
much larger than those of the left; silver bracelets are on
the wrists; and on the fingers and thumbs of each hand,
a number of rings of various descriptions. They also
wear a zone round the waist composed of a sort of chain
work, of either silver or a mixed metal resembling brass.
Their upper garment, or mantle, resembles that of the
men; but it is worn differently, and, reaching to the feet,
envelopes the whole frame.
This attire is by no means graceful ; it gives them
an unfeminine and mummy-like appearance ; and neither
they nor the men having any pretensions to cleanliness,
this wrapper is, from that circumstance, often rendered
still more unseemly.
They are, however, a lively, laughter-loving race, and
in the sudden transition and free expression of their
sentiments, shew a strength of feeling, and correctness
of thought, little to be expected under such a garb.
One of them, Nuskyobe, whose name had attracted
my attention, came into my room one day, and seating
herself on the edge of the carpet, was looking at her son,
a fine boy of six or seven years of age, who, to the amuse-
ment of himself and several lookers on, was imitating the
antics and grimace of the dancing girls of the low country.
On turning towards them, I was amused to observe the
down from the back of the neck between the shoulders.
On the arms, immediately above the elbow, they wear
a pair of armlets of brass, those of the right arm being
much larger than those of the left; silver bracelets are on
the wrists; and on the fingers and thumbs of each hand,
a number of rings of various descriptions. They also
wear a zone round the waist composed of a sort of chain
work, of either silver or a mixed metal resembling brass.
Their upper garment, or mantle, resembles that of the
men; but it is worn differently, and, reaching to the feet,
envelopes the whole frame.
This attire is by no means graceful ; it gives them
an unfeminine and mummy-like appearance ; and neither
they nor the men having any pretensions to cleanliness,
this wrapper is, from that circumstance, often rendered
still more unseemly.
They are, however, a lively, laughter-loving race, and
in the sudden transition and free expression of their
sentiments, shew a strength of feeling, and correctness
of thought, little to be expected under such a garb.
One of them, Nuskyobe, whose name had attracted
my attention, came into my room one day, and seating
herself on the edge of the carpet, was looking at her son,
a fine boy of six or seven years of age, who, to the amuse-
ment of himself and several lookers on, was imitating the
antics and grimace of the dancing girls of the low country.
On turning towards them, I was amused to observe the