Liberia 



<«- 



the relative length or breadth ot the sleeves, and these 

 variations are best illustrated by the different drawings or 

 photographs given in this book. 



These voluminous garments tor men have not only become 

 the fashion throughout Muhammadan Liberia trom the 

 Mandingo Plateau to Cape Mount on the coast, but also among 

 some of the interior tribes supposed to be related to the Krus 

 who have not as yet adopted the Muhammadan reHgion. It 

 seems to the author the most becoming and suitable garment 

 for the Negro, and he could wish that it was worn by all 

 the natives of Liberia whilst they lived in that country. They 

 could adopt European costume when travelling to colder 

 lands. 



The peoples who wear the bubn are pretty sure to make 

 use of saiiddls when fully dressed or on the march. The 

 Mandingo sandals are generally made of wood, almost like 

 pattens, with broad thongs of dyed leather or woven grass or 

 fibre, to be passed over the instep and inside the great toe. 

 These patten-like sandals are most artistic in design, inlay, and 

 colouring. They are generally only worn when in full dress. 

 On the line of march the Muhammadan Negroes either go bare- 

 foot or wear very light sandals of dressed leather. 



The favourite head-covering is a round cap, fitting more 

 or less tightly to the top of the head, and very similar in 

 appearance to the cap or fez worn by so many Muhammadan 

 peoples in North Africa and Nearer Asia, round which a 

 turban may be wound. But turbans, so far as I am aware, 

 are never seen amongst the Muhammadans of Liberia or even 

 of Senegambia. They may have been introduced amongst the 

 Fula, but ordinarily they do not make their appearance west- 

 wards of the latitude of Timbuktu and Hausaland. Of late 

 the fez or tarboush has been introduced by European merchants, 



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