THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
14Q 
grow, but pluck out the hairs as soon as they appear, it being 
against their religion to allow them to remain. 
The dress of the poorer classes of the women consists simply 
of a large piece of coarse calico, or cotton called a Sarow. It 
is folded and wound round the body above the bosom, which 
it partly covers, and reaches down to the ancle or the middle 
of the leg ; the upper end of the cloth is tucked up, and fas- 
tened immediately under their arm pits. Their hair is twisted 
up behind like that of the men, and fastened with a fillet, or 
condes , those large pins or skewers I have already described. 
The women of a superior station dress with much care and 
splendour, and sometimes a good deal of taste. They wear 
the sarow I have just mentioned, but of a finer stuff, and 
folded lower down on the waist. They have also a kind of 
boddice or close waistcoat, with sleeves reaching below the 
waist; it seems intended to cover the bosom, which, at the 
same time, it compresses and . prevents from having its full 
and natural appearance. Over it they wear either a coloured 
silk, fine muslin, or calico garment of a wider shape and 
longer ; with a girdle of the same, finely embroidered, drawn 
three or four times loosely round the waist. Over the whole 
is thrown the badjou , or loose robe, nearly resembling that 
worn by the men. Some instead of the badjou , use the salen- 
dang , a piece .of silk or muslin about five feet long, thrown 
loosely around the neck and shoulders, so as to fall down 
before, and be brought across the waist backwards. Their 
hair is dressed with the conde-pins, and shines with cocoa- 
