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WOMEN OF JAPAN. . 289 
beauty and alluring manners. Tlic description by 
Captain Saris, of tlie women of Japan, written in 
1613, accurately- describes tliese Eastern Aspasias as 
they are at the present day. “ They were attired in 
gownes of silke, clapt the one sMrt over the other, 
and so girt to them ; bare-legged, only a paire of 
half buskins bound with silke about their instep ; 
their haire very blacke, and very long, tyed up in a 
knot upoii*the crowne in a comely manner, their 
heads nowhere shaven as the men's Avere. They 
AA^ere Avell-faced, handed and footed, cleare skind 
and Avhite, but Avanting colour, Avhich they amend 
by arte. Of stature Ioaa^, but very fat, very cour- 
teous in behaAuour, not ignorant of the respect to be 
given unto persons according to their fashion." 
It is, I am aAvare, treading on delicate ground, to 
enter the boudoir and Avatch the toilet of a lady, and 
still more dangerous to criticise the fashion, colour, 
and material of her dress ; but as no “ Le Follet" is 
published in Yeddo, to AAdiich I can refer my fair 
readers, I must even risk the imputation of a curiosity 
which cost an “ Actaeon " of other days his life ! 
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