16 i 
The Dutch of Ceylon. 
men, it is not to be expected that the women can be veiy 
polished or skilled iii the . arts of pleasing. In the forenoons 
their dress is particularly slovenly. I have seen many in a 
morning with only a petticoat and a loose gown or jacket upon 
them, their hair rolled up in a*knot on the crown . of their 
heads, and without either shoes or stockings; and yet these 
very women at their evening parties appeared dressed out in 
abundance of hnery. Their minds are still less cultivated than 
their bodies ; and they are nearly as ignorant on their wedding 
day as in their infancy. Those charms of polite conversation, 
and that knov/ledge of useful subjects, which render the society 
of our fair countrywomen at once so delightful and improving, 
are utterly unknown among the ladies of Ceylon. Their educa- 
tion indeed is such, that accomplishments of any description are 
not to be expected among them. From their infancy they are 
entirely given up to the management of the female slaves, from 
whom they imbibe manners, habits, and superstitious notions, of 
which they can never afterwards divest themselves. Under 
this tuition they continue till they are married; and even in 
this new state, from the description I have already given of 
the men, it will not be expected that they should make any 
considerable improvements. As they find such a cold recep- 
tion among the men, they are glad J:o return to the attentions 
and obeisance paid them in the society of their slaves, to 
which they have been most accustomed. Their morals, being 
derived from the same source, are equally destitute of dignity 
or virtue, as their manners are of politeness. They usually 
converse in that barbarous Portuguese which is reckoned ex- 
tremely vulgar and only fit for slaves. They seldom or ever 
speak before an Englishman in any other dialect, but look upon 
Y 
I 
