The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; vol. 1 of 2: Being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristicsWood, J. G. (John George)
History
The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; vol. 1 of 2: Being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics
Wood, J. G. (John George)
Anthropology; Ethnology; Manners and customs
The metropolitan reader can easily witness such a metamorphosis by
visiting the Hammâm, or any similar establishment, where dark-skinned
attendants are employed. While engaged in their ordinary vocation,
clad with nothing but a cloth round their loins, they look just like
ancient statues endued with life, and it is impossible to avoid
admiring the graceful dignity of their gestures, as they move silently
about the room. But when any of them leave the room, and put on the
ordinary dress, the change is complete and disappointing, and it is
hardly possible to believe the identity of such apparently different
individuals. In the time long passed away, when Scotland was still
contesting with England, the statesmen of the latter country showed
no small knowledge of human nature when they forbade the use of the
Highland dress, and forced the Highlanders to abandon the picturesque
costume which seems to harmonize so well with the wild hills of their
native land. A Highlander in his kilt and tartan was not the same man
when in the costume of the Lowlander, and it was impossible for him
to feel the same pride in himself as when he wore the garb of the
mountaineer and the colors of his clan.
Many of the young men who cannot afford beads make bracelets,
necklaces, armlets, and anklets from the skins of animals. After
cutting the skin into strips, they twist the strips spirally, so as to
convert them into hollow ropes, having all the hair on the outside.
When made of prettily colored skins, these curious ornaments have a
very good, though barbaric effect. (See page 49.) By cutting the strips
spirally, almost any length can be obtained; and the consequence is,
that the young men sometimes appear with their bodies, legs, and arms
covered with these furry ropes.
Another kind of ornament of which the Kaffir is very fond is the tufted
tail of an ox. A man of consequence will sometimes wear a considerable
number of these tails. Some he will form into an apron, and others will
be disposed about his person in the quaintest possible style. He will
tie one under each knee, so as to bring it on the shin bone. Others he
will fix to leathern loops, and hang them loosely on his arms, like the
curious bracelet worn by Jung Bahadoor when in England. Some he will
divide into a multitude of strips, and sew them together so as to make
fringed belts, which he will tie round his waist, or with which he will
encircle the upper arms. Others, again, will be attached to his ankles,
and a man thus decorated is contemplated enviously by those not so
fortunate.
[Illustration: BRACELETS. (See page 52.)]
[Illustration: APRON OF CHIEF’S WIFE. (See page 51.)]
[Illustration: IVORY ARMLETS. (See page 46.)]
[Illustration: NECKLACES--BEADS AND TEETH. (See page 37.)]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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