BOOK III. CHAP. VI. ...523 



by the name o^ herfeymcres, maile without any Iming or lace, eafy 

 and loofe. The waiftcoat and breeches fhouldbe of cotton (corded 

 or India dimity for example), in preference to linen, as it prevents 

 catching cold ; a circumftance not well to be avoided in a linen drefs, 

 which is no fooner moift, than it flrikes a very fenfible chill, fo as 

 frequently to obftru6l perfpiration. The fame fubflcince is alfo 

 proper for flockings. Mod men however, in this ifland, wear linen 

 drawers in preference to linings, for the fake of cleanlinefs; and 

 prefer the RulTia drab for breeches, as it is very durable, and has a 

 neat look. 



White hats are bed adapted to this climate, on account of their 

 being light and cool. The black hats abforb the fun's rays, and 

 are fometimes extremely inconvenient. All white fervants there- 

 fore, foldiers, and others, whofe employments may neceflarily 

 oblige them to be often expofed to the fun in the heat of the day, 

 fhould be furnifhed with white hats inftead of black ; the former 

 repelling, the latter imbibing, the heat [/] ; and experience convinces, 

 that light-coloured cloathing is by far the cooleft in this part of the 

 world, and black or dark-coloured the hottefl ; for the fame reafon a 

 full mourning, or black fuit, is improper here ; becaufe, in fucli 

 cloaths, the body is more heated by the fun in walking abroad, and 

 heated at the fame time by the exercife; which accumulated fervour 

 may occafion dangerous illnelles. They are prudent, who, inftead 

 of this, wear a fcarlet, with black cuffs and button holes, by way 

 of mourning; for nothing is more likely to fubjeft a perfon to 

 catch cold, and a fit of ficknefs, tlian a fudden change from an 

 habitual light and cool drefs, to one twice as hot ; and as fudden a 

 return again, after a time, to his former mode. On the fame princi- 

 ple, the ladies hats or bonnets fhould be lined with black, as not 

 reverberatitig on their faces thofe rays of the fun, which are reflefted 

 upwards from the earth and water, and occafion freckles, or tan. 

 And hence alfo it appears, that putting a bit of white paper within 



[/] This is illuftrated by Dr. Franklin's experiment, who took a numberof little fqiiare pieces of 

 liroadcloth of various colours, aird laiJ them all out upon the fnow, in a bright fun-fiiiny morning. , 

 In a tew hours, the Mack cloth, being moft warmed by the fun, funk fo Jeep as to he below the action 

 of the folar rays. The dark blue, almoft as deep. The lighter blue not quite fo much as the dark. 

 The other colours llill lefs, in proportion as they were lighter; and tb.e white remained on the 

 futface of the fnow, not having fuak at all. 



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