Page:Costumes of the Canary Islands.djvu/4



Manto y Saya is decidedly, to an eye unaccustomed to its appearance, the most strange and ungraceful mode of attiring the female figure, used in the Canary Islands.

It is worn by persons of the middling rank, such as shopkeepers' wives, and others, and has the appearance of two petticoats made of black bombazeen, fastened round the waist, the lower worn in the usual way, and the upper thrown over the head. The lower is confined tight round the body by six or seven plaited runs with strings, and lined at the bottom with some bright coloured stuff; the upper entirely conceals the arms and hands, which are employed in opening or closing that part which falls over the forehead; this the wearer often does in such a manner, as to bring it nearly to a point with a very small opening through which to see her way.

When viewed in profile the appearance of this dress is really ridiculous.