214 MY LIFE 



accompaniment to this is an apron, which ties it up round the waist. 

 The bedgown is invariably formed of what they call flannel, which is 

 a stuff formed by a mixture of wool, cotton, and sometimes a little 

 silk. It is often striped black or dark blue, or brown and white, with 

 alternate broad and narrow stripes, or red and black, but more fre- 

 quently a plaid of several colours, the red and black being wool, the 

 white or blue cotton, and often a narrow yellow stripe of silk, made 

 in plaid patterns of every variety of size and colour. The apron is 

 almost always black-and-white plaid, the only variety being in the 

 form and size of the pattern, and has a pretty effect by relieving the 

 gay colours of the other part of the dress. They in general wear no 

 stays, and this, with the constant habit of carrying burdens on the 

 head, produces almost invariably an upright carriage and good figure, 

 though rather inclined to the corpulency of Dutch beauties. On their 

 necks they usually wear a gay silk kerchief or flannel shawl, a neat 

 white cap under the hat; laced boots and black worsted stockings com- 

 plete their attire. In Carmarthenshire a jacket with sleeves is fre- 

 quently worn by the women, in other respects their dress does not 

 much differ from what I have described. 



The women and girls carry (as .before mentioned) great loads upon 

 their heads, fifty or sixty pounds weight, and often much more. Large 

 pitchers (like Grecian urns) of water or milk are often carried for long 

 distances on uneven roads, with both hands full at the same time. 

 They may be often seen turning round their heads to speak to an 

 acquaintance and tripping along with the greatest unconcern, but never 

 upsetting the pitcher. The women are almost invariably stout and 

 healthy looking, notwithstanding their hard work and poor living. 

 These circumstances, however, make them look much older than they 

 really are. The girls are often exceedingly pretty when about fifteen 

 to twenty, but after that, hard work and exposure make their features 

 coarse, so that a girl of five-and-twenty would often be taken for nearer 

 forty. 



All, but especially the young ones, ride most fearlessly, and at 

 fairs they may be seen by dozens racing like steeple-chasers. 



Many of these farmers are freeholders, cultivating their own land 

 and living on the produce; but they are generally little, if any, better 

 off than the tenants, leaving the land in the same manner, thus show- 

 ing that it is not altogether want of leases and good landlords that 

 makes them so, but the complete ignorance in which they pass their 

 lives. 



All that I have hitherto said refers solely to the poorer class, 

 known as hill farmers. In the valleys and near the town where the 

 land is better, there are frequently better educated farmers, who assim- 

 ilate more to the English in their agricultural operations, mode of 

 living, and dress. 



