108 CANARY ISLANDS. 



sacrilenrious to abandon. These, however, are limited to 

 the middle and lower classes, the higher order of society 

 following the European fashions, only varying from them 

 in such a degree as the climate requires. 



The church dress of the ladies of the first class is simi- 

 lar to that of the peninsula, and either is called Ja sat/a y 

 mantilla, or la mantilla y vesqidna, the principal part of 

 which, is of black silk, ornamented at the bottom, accord- 

 ing to the fashion or taste of the wearer. The most 

 striking part of the dress is the long veil of black or 

 white lace, which forms the only covering for the head. 

 This is called la mantilla. 



The common out-door dress of the women of the mid- 

 dling classes in the larger towns of some of these islands, con- 

 sists of a white flannel or baize mantilla, drawn close over the 

 face, and is called la tapada, which signifies that they are 

 concealed. It is commonly worn over a black bombazine 

 or silk gown when they go abroad, but on ordinary occa- 

 sions, it is worn over their common dress. When the man- 

 tilla is gracefully put on by a well-formed and neatly- 

 dressed female, it is in the highest degree becoming ; and 

 being closed over the face in such a manner as only to 

 leave an opening wide enough to display a pair of spark- 

 ling black eyes, shaded by the long projecting point of the 

 mantilla, it gives to the w^'hole appearance of the wearer 

 an air of mystery, well calculated to attract attention and 

 curiosity. This dress is frequently assumed by the higher 

 classes, as a sort of incognito on shopping and other occa- 

 sions. 



Many of the wives of mechanics and shopkeepers wear 

 a dress which seems to consist of nothing more than two 

 petticoats made of black bombazine, fastened round the 

 waist, the lower one worn the common way, and the other 

 one thrown over the head. The lower one is confined 

 tight to the waist, by six or seven plaited and folded runs 

 with strings, and at the bottom it is lined with some light- 

 colored stuif. The upper one entirely conceals the arms 

 and hands, which are employed in closing the part which 

 falls over the forehead. When a person with this dress is 

 viewed sideways, her appearance is truly ridiculous. The 

 linen coif and bodice are peculiar to most of the peasant 



