Page:New Peterson magazine 1857 Vol. XXXII.pdf/405

PETERSON’S MAGAZINE.

Vol. XXXII. THE COSTUMES OF THE ORIENT.

BY CHARLES J. PETERSON.

HE East is; still picturesque. The old grey antique poetic dress of earlier timea survives in the Orient. ‘The traveller, landing at Al exandris, sees the identical porter that ap. pears in the Arabian Nighte. Asia, ancient mother of na tions, yet re- tains the ro- mantic cos- tume of the primitive ages, and is younger, bi fa that, than any of her ohil- aren.

Some of the most graceful fashions of the East are to be found in India. In that delicious clime, where the balmy breeze blows through the sacred banyan, wafting toward one the fragrance of the oleander, the myrtle, and the jasmine, everything conspires to poetry: and dress : takes its shape accordingly. In India also everybody wears ornaments. Even the poorest women ; contrive to have a silver bangle or bracelet for the arm; while the rich are gorgeous with jewelry. The Affghans, north-west of Hindoostan, parti cularly dress picturesquely. The men have trou sers of dark-colored cloth ; a low cap ; and half boots of brown leather, laced or buttoned up to the calf. Over this, for a great part of the year, is thrown a large cloak of well tanned sheep- skin, with the wool inside,

or of soft and pliant grey felt. This gar ment is worn loose over the shoulders, and with the sleeve hanging down, and reaches to the an kles. The women wear a shirt of the finest materials, ge nerally colored or embroidered with flowers in silk. Their trousers are colored and comparatively tight. On their bends is a small cap of bright-colored silk, embroidered with gold thread; and a large sheet, which they wear attached, and with which they bide their faces when a stranger approaches.

In the Mogul empire, the dress of the rich is particularly splendid. The women wear a silk net veil of a crimson or purple color, embroi dered in silver, and with which they either cover the face, or throw back over the shoulders as an ornament. Their chemise is of transparent gauze, reaching to the slippers; and beneath are seen the drawers of green satin, flowing with gold. The hair is long, divided from the fore head, and ornamented with pearls and other jewels. The silk-net, thrown over the head, was worn also in the classic times of Greece; for in the "Odyssey," Helen presents sach a veil to Telemachus. "The beauteous queen, advancing, then display'd A shining veil, and thus endearing said, 'Accept, dear youth, this monument of love, Long since, in better days, by Helen wove; Safe in thy mother's care the vesture lay, To deck thy bride and grace thy nuptial day.'" 377 �