6o A VOYAGE TO Book VII. 



bracelets, all very curious both with regard to wa- 

 ter and fize, many ladies wear other jewels fet in 

 gold, or for fingularity fake, in tombago. Laftly, 

 from their girdle before is fufpended a large round 

 jewel enriched with diamonds; much more fuperb 

 than their bracelets, or other ornaments. A lady 

 covered with the moft expenfive lace inftead of linen, 

 and glittering from head to foot with jewels, is fup- 

 pofed to be dreffed at the expence of not lefs than 

 thirty or forty thoufand crowns. A fplendor ftill the 

 more afeoniihing, as it is fo very common. 



A fondnefs for expence in thefe people, does 

 not confine itfelf to rich apparel; it appears no lef3 

 in the ftrange neglc6l, and the fmall value they feem 

 to fet upon them, by wearing them in a manner the 

 moft carelefs, and by that means bringing upon 

 themfelves frefli expences in repairing the old or 

 purchafing new jewels ; efpecially pearls on account 

 of their fragility. 



The moft common of the two kinds of dreffe^ 

 worn when they go abroad, is the veil and long pet* 

 ticoat; the other is a round petticoat and mantelet. 

 The former for church, the latter for taking the 

 - air, and diverfions ; but both in the prevailing 

 tafte for expence, being richly embroidered with fiW 

 ver or gold. 



The long petticoat is particularly worn on holy 

 T'hurfday, as on that day they vifit the churches, 

 attended by two or three female negro or mulattq 

 flaves, dreifed in an uniform like pages.* 



* The Idwer clafs of women whofe whole flock of apparel fcl- 

 dom confills of more than two cam i fas [fhifts] andafaya [petty- 

 toat] wear bracelets, rofaries, and fmall golden images about 

 their nexks and arms, to the intrinfic value of 50 or 60 crowns, 

 and to them of much greater value, having coft near that fum in 

 benedidion from the priefts, without which the images, &c. 

 Wo^ld be efteemed pollutions. A 



2 With; 



