Dress of the Irish Peasantry. 



there are but few of the men who do not work 

 at the loom. 



i! .f 



As we proceeded, our attention was called to 

 two comfortable-looking farm-houses, and on 

 inquiry we were informed that they were inha- 

 bited by considerable farmers, who occupied 

 nearly one hundred acres each ! The dress of 

 both sexes, on gala days, is highly decent and 

 proper. The women in general wearing nothing 

 on their heads but a cap of muslin or linen. 

 Unaccustomed to the luxury of a hat, its absence 

 seemed to be unattended with inconvenience ; 

 though the want of shade to the face in fine, 

 and shelter in bad weather, must, I should sup- 

 pose, be severely felt. Their hair is an object 

 of great care and attention* In whatever disha- 

 bille the younger part of the sex may appear, 

 their hair is always carefully put up in papers ; 

 and, when dressed, great pains are bestowed in 

 curling and disposing it in becoming ringlets. 

 Vanity, which exercises a dominion over every 

 mortal in a greater or less degree, teaches the 

 people of both sexes here, that shoes are to be 

 considered as appendages of ornament rather 

 than of use. As we approached Belfast we met 

 numbers, both of men and women, who had 

 halted to disrobe themselves of their shoes and 

 stockings, after these had served the purposes 



12 



