262 TRAVELS IN UPPKR 



especially in the country, have no other clothing 

 but a species of large tunic with sleeves, extremely 

 wide, and which serves at once for gown and shift ; 

 it is open on both sides from the arm-pit down to 

 the knee, so that the movements of the body are 

 easily seen through the apertures ; but women 

 there are little concerned about that, provided the 

 face is not exposed to view. 



It is not sufficient for opulent and idle women 

 to be adorned with so many natural charms ; they 

 must besides endeavour to increase and set off 

 beauty by the assistance of the arts of the toilette, 

 which is likewise with them an object of superior 

 importance. But this art consists entirely in an- 

 cient and invariable usages : fashion never de- 

 ranges the uniformity of their practices, never in- 

 volves them in caprice upon caprice; and if an- 

 cient and unchanging modes be a proof of slight 

 advancement toward perfection, may it not like- 

 wise be affirmed, that a restless versatility in fa- 

 shion is a symptom of degeneracy in those whom 

 it torments ? 



The most remarkable trait of beauty, in the East, 

 is large black eyes, and it is well known that nature 

 has made this a characteristic sign of the women 

 of those countries. But, not content with these 

 gifts of nature, those of Egypt employ every effort 



of 



