The mode of dress is simply wonderful. It is ever changing and ever indelicate and monstrous--especially for women. When I first saw one of these with a huge _hunch_ on the top of her back, I thought the person was afflicted with an enormous _tumour_; but when I observed the same thing on all hands, I saw my mistake. The great hunch was no more than a machine placed on top of the seat, under the outer garments. The effect is something amazing. The women in walking also wear the robe drawn as tightly as possible back and over the hips, so as to display the whole form from head to foot in front, and also in rear, excepting at the back-seat where the protuberance is. Here the clothes are clustered, and hang down in a trail upon the ground! The feet are thrust into very high-heeled shoes, or boots; so, in walking, the woman stoops mincingly forward with short, unsteady steps, as if pinched at the toes, rattling her heels upon the pavement, and tossing her back-gear and headdress, and showing off to an astonished observer (unused to the apparition) something to be remembered! On every little occasion taking up her _trail_, and discovering legs and ankles. At home, when receiving male and female friends to dinner, the women do as they please--also in dances, routs, and the like. I was invited, soon after my arrival, to dine. I had looked at a _Book of rites_ and ceremonies for the great, and hoped to get on tolerably well. On arriving, my first mistake was to address the servant as Illustrious, taking him for the master. In many houses the servant, dressed like the master (being much more of a man in appearance), may well be taken for him; but in some houses the servants are made to wear _badges and colours_ of their station. Women are very choice about these men-servants, and will not have one unless he have very large, well-formed _calves_ [fa-tze]. I have heard that the rogues supply this requirement by adding so much fine hay to the leg as will give due swell and figure! Upon being shown up to the room, where I was to address myself first to the _Lady_--the Illustrious wife--I made my next blunder. The lady was large, full of flesh, rather red, with bright eyes. Another lady, just moving away, trailed her long robe suddenly before me--my foot caught and held her. She turned her white shoulders upon me, frowned--at the moment I stumbled, and recovered myself awkwardly, with open hands full upon the ample bosom of the Illustrious! Ah, my confusion! I could not recover my composure. I could see nothing but necks, shoulders, backs, bosoms of women, and eyes flashing at me--heads, and feathers and jewels--lights, noise, confusion! I got away--never knew how.