266 SUBMISSIVE WIVES. [1697. 



with the dangling Duggs of the homely Africans near the 

 Cape. Their Complexions are fine and good, tho' a little 

 brownish, their Hands fair, their Air soft, their Eyes sprightly 

 and their Laughing agreeable : To put all together, there are 

 many of them that are perfectly handsom. I have seen some 

 Dance the most charmingly that could be. They go about 

 Streets with a sort of Drummer after their mode, who beats 

 time to their Motions, and after the young Wench has ended 

 her Dance, one gives her something for Encouragement. 

 Another Cliarm they have is, that they are extreamly neat 

 and cleanly, their Eeligion obliging them to wash themselves 

 all over several times a Day, and their Custom being, as I 

 have already observ'd, to clear their Skins of all that hinders 

 them from being extreamly soft and smooth. After all 

 this, I know not whether Java may not pass for a gallant 

 Country.^ 



But after I have commended these jolly Women so much, 

 I can't help adding to their Disadvantage, that if all I heard 

 be true, they are not extraordinary faithful to their Husbands-; 

 nevertheless, they seem extreamly Submissive. They lie 

 groveling along upon the Ground while their Husbands sit, 

 especially if there be any Strangers there, (for it may be 

 inferr'd from all I have said, they do not conceal themselves 

 like the Chineses, or other Mahometans of Turkey, Persia, and 

 elsewhere) : But generally speaking, these couchant Postures 

 signifie little to their Honesty, and are of no more Significa- 

 tion, than your most liuriMc Servant at the end of a Letter. 



These AVomen go in their Hair, and have for Habit a short 

 Wastcoat with little Sleeves lac'd before, which sits close 

 without joining, and being cut sloping a-top, discovers great 



1 In orig. : " je ne sais si apres tout cela il est necessaire de dire que 

 risle de Java n'est pas un pais oil la galanterie soit inconnue : I'amour 

 y regne, finement meme, & violeminent." 



2 In orig. : " n'ayent pour leurs Maris, la fidelite qu'elles veulent 

 qu'ils ayent pour elles." 



