Page:Sixteen years of an artist's life in Morocco, Spain and the Canary Islands.djvu/34

Rh tiara of pearls and emeralds, and by a rich and many-coloured silk handkerchief. Large hoops of gold, adorned with precious stones, formed a very remarkable ornament for the ear, although they can scarcely be denominated ear-rings, for they are larger than bracelets, being about six inches in diameter, and as thick as the little finger. These, partially supported by fine gold chains attached to the head-dress, are passed through the fleshy part of the ear, leaving only a thin shred of flesh round the gold. A star of jewels, in front of each, is so disposed as to appear in all its lustre on the side next to the face. From her neck is suspended a profusion of antique chains and pendants of pearls and emeralds, of extraordinary size, but roughly cut and polished. The bodice she wears is composed of cloth of gold, gorgeous in appearance, and disposed about her person in what we should term a voluptuously loose manner, the skirt appended to it being of brilliant scarlet cloth, richly braided with gold. Her naked ankles were weighed down by ponderous and roughly chased anklets, and a clumsy pair of gold embroidered scarlet slippers, of Morocco leather, covered the fore part of her feet.

Such is a faithful picture of this automaton beauty, and of her rich, but not very graceful,