DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0157
148
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
simple, without going back to the origin of all
dress, the simple fig-leaf. She was not more than
sixteen, with a sweet mild face, and a figure that the
finest lady might be proud to exhibit in its native
beauty; every limb charmingly rounded, and every
muscle finely developed. It would have been a
burning shame to put such a figure into frock, pet-
ticoat, and the other etceteras of a lady's dress. I
now look back upon this, and many other scenes,
as strange, of which I thought nothing at the time,
when all around was in conformity. I remember,
however, though I thought nothing of seeing wo-
men all but naked, that at first I did feel somewhat
delicate in attempting to buy the few inches that
constituted the young girl's wardrobe. Paul had
no such scruples, and I found, too, that, as in the
road to vice, " ce n'est que le premier pas qui
coute." In short, I bought it, and have it with me,
and to the curious in such matters I have no hesi-
tation in saying, that the costume of a Nubian lady
is far more curious than any thing to be found in
Italy, and would make a decided sensation at a
masquerade or fancy ball.
It was nearly dark, when, from the ruined height
of the old city of Assouan, I saw my little boat
with the flag of my country, and near it, hardly
less welcome to my eyes, the red-cross banner of
England. The sight of these objects, assisted by
my multifarious bargainings, relieved me from the
loneliness I had felt in parting from my friends ;
and I went on board the English boat, hoping to
find a party with which I had partially arranged
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
simple, without going back to the origin of all
dress, the simple fig-leaf. She was not more than
sixteen, with a sweet mild face, and a figure that the
finest lady might be proud to exhibit in its native
beauty; every limb charmingly rounded, and every
muscle finely developed. It would have been a
burning shame to put such a figure into frock, pet-
ticoat, and the other etceteras of a lady's dress. I
now look back upon this, and many other scenes,
as strange, of which I thought nothing at the time,
when all around was in conformity. I remember,
however, though I thought nothing of seeing wo-
men all but naked, that at first I did feel somewhat
delicate in attempting to buy the few inches that
constituted the young girl's wardrobe. Paul had
no such scruples, and I found, too, that, as in the
road to vice, " ce n'est que le premier pas qui
coute." In short, I bought it, and have it with me,
and to the curious in such matters I have no hesi-
tation in saying, that the costume of a Nubian lady
is far more curious than any thing to be found in
Italy, and would make a decided sensation at a
masquerade or fancy ball.
It was nearly dark, when, from the ruined height
of the old city of Assouan, I saw my little boat
with the flag of my country, and near it, hardly
less welcome to my eyes, the red-cross banner of
England. The sight of these objects, assisted by
my multifarious bargainings, relieved me from the
loneliness I had felt in parting from my friends ;
and I went on board the English boat, hoping to
find a party with which I had partially arranged