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the Cinglese from the Candians. 
The dress of the poorer sorts of the Cinglese in a particular 
manner bespeaks their indolence and wretchedness. It consists 
merely of a piece of coarse cloth wrapped round their loins, 
and covering their thighs, or frequently only the parts which 
decency requires to be concealed. Their hair is either tied up 
in a bunch on the crown of the head, or cropped quite close, 
which is the usual custom among the lower orders of the 
peasants. The women wear their hair tied up in the same way, 
or fastened with tortoise-shell combs. Their dress Consists of a 
piece of cloth wrapped round the waist, and reaching down to 
their ancles ; among the very poorest class it does not reach below 
the knee. They wear also a short jacket which usually covers 
the bosom and shoulders, leaving the middle of the back bare ; 
the bosom is also frequently exposed. This class of women are 
employed to do all manner of servile work, and to bring tiie 
fruits and vegetables to market. 
But although the poorer Cinglese use no more clothing than a 
very small attention to decency obliges them, the superior ranks 
are far from being regardless of dress. The men of the better 
sort usually wear a piece of calico wrapped round their waists, 
and either allowed to hang loose down to their ancles, or 
drawn together between the legs in the form of wide trowsers. 
The body is covered by a jacket with sleeves, whieh unites 
the appearance of a shirt and waistcoat, and is buttoned at 
the neck and wrists. The buttons are the articles on which 
the magnilicence of this piece of dress is supposed particularly 
to depend, and no expence is spared to have them as splendid 
as possible. A great number of buttons are used, and they 
are either of silver, gold, or precious stones. Enormous ear- 
rings are another piece of fmery in which the Ceylonese cope 
II H 2 
