522 JAMAICA, 



always lace in fuch a manner as to conceal their breads. Wheo- 

 they go abroad they wear a mantlet or (hort cloak. The richnefs of 

 their drefsdoes not confill:, as with the Englifh ladies, in a multitude 

 of things piled one \ipon another; but in the fined linen, laces, 

 and jewels, fo difpofed as to add very little to incovenience, and to 

 produce the mod ornamental effe£t. 



On the head, they wear a cap of tine linen covered with lace, 

 and worked into the Ihape of a mitre ; which, being plentifully 

 ftarched, terminates forward in a point, not eafily difcompofed. This 

 they call panitOy and it is worn by the ladies, and other native 

 Whites, as an undrefs; nothing can be more becoming, and, having 

 ufed themfelves to it from their infancy, it fits upon them with a 

 better air. Our Englifl) belles in Jamaica differ very widely from 

 thefe madonas. They do not fcruple to wear the thickeft winter 

 filks and fattins ; and are fometimes ready to fmk under the weight 

 of rich gold or filver brocades. Their head-drefs varies with the 

 ton at home ; the winter fafhions of Lo?idon arrive here at t!ie 

 fetting in of hot weather ; and thick or thin caps, large as an 

 umbrella, or as diminutive as a half crown piece, are indifcrimi- 

 iiately put on, without the fmallefl: regard to the difference of 

 climate; nay, the late prepofterous mode of drelhng female hair in 

 London, half a yard perpendicular height, faftened with fome fcore 

 of heavy iron pins, on a bundle of wool large enough to fluff a 

 chair bottom, together with pounds of powder and pomatum, did 

 not cfcape their ready imitation; but grew into vogue with great 

 rapidity, and literally might be affirmed, to turn all their heads; for 

 it was morally impoffible to avoid ftooping, and tottering, under fo 

 enormous a mafs; Nothing furely can be more prepofterous, and 

 abfurd, than for perfons reiiding in the Weft-Indies, to adhere 

 rigidly to aH the European cuftoms and manners; which, though 

 perhaps not inconvenient in a cold Northern air, are certainly im- 

 proper, ridiculous, and detrimental, in a hot climate. How perverfe 

 is an attachment to thick bufliy periwigs (the fit antidotes to froft 

 and fnow), under a vertical fun ; or complete fuits of thick broad- 

 cloth, laced from top to bottom, in a country where there is not 

 the leaft occafion to force a fweat ! The proper coats for this 

 climate are of the lighteft Englifh broadcloths, commonly known 



by, 



