Ch.V. south AMERICA. 59 



but little vv'orn, the encumbrance of embroidery be- 

 ing fuited rather to enlarge than dimifli the appearance 

 of a fmall foot.* 



They are fond of white filk (lockings, made ex- 

 treamly thin, that the leg may appear the more fhape- 

 ly, the greateft part of which is expofcd to view, 

 Thefe trifles often afford very fprightly fallies of wit 

 in their animadverfions on the drefs of others. 



Hitherto we have confidered only the more corn- 

 common drefs of thefe ladies •, the reader will conceive 

 a ftill higher idea of their magnificence, when he is in- 

 formed of the ornaments with which they are decorat- 

 ed in their vifits, and upon public occafions. We fhall 

 begin with their manner of dreffing the hair, which 

 being naturally black, and capable of reaching below 

 their waifts, they difpofe in fuch a manner as to ap- 

 pear perfectly graceful. They tie it up behind in fix 

 braided locks, through which a golden bodkin a little 

 bent is inferted, and having a clufter of diamonds at 

 each end. On this the locks are fufpended fo as to 

 touch the flioulder. On the front and upper part of 

 the head they wear diamond egrets, and the hair is fc«% 

 nied into little curls, hanging from the forehead to the 

 middle of the ear, with a large black patch of velvet 

 on each temple. Their ear-rings are of brilliants, in- 

 termixed with tuffs of black filk, covered with pearls, 

 refembling thofe already defcribed in the firft volume, 

 Thefe are fo common an ornament, that befides their 

 necklaces, they alfo wear about their neck rofaries, the 

 beads of v/hich are of pearls, either feparate or fet in 

 clufters to the fize of a large filbert and thofe which 

 form the crofs are ftill larger. 



Besides diamond rings, necklaces, girdles, and 



* All thofe who can afFord them wear fhoes made in the Eu- 

 ropean manner, but with heels of wrought filverj the tinklin|^ 

 of which, added to the fmallnefs of their feet, has really, at leai^ 

 %o the weather beaten faiior, fomething captivating, A. 



bracelets. 



