100 
JOUBNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
The principal portion of a woman’s dress goes 
under the name of a Thabi, and is a petticoat, 
more or less open in front, according to the con¬ 
dition of the wearer. With the lower classes, 
both for economy and convenience, the breadth is 
so scanty, that in walking, the knee at least, and 
often half-way up the thigh, is exposed to view 
at every step. With the higher orders, this por¬ 
tion of the dress, because ampler, is consequently 
more decent, but it is also less convenient. Wo¬ 
men use an Engi, or frock, somewhat different in 
form and shorter than that of the men. They 
generally wear no head-dress. Men and women 
wear the hair long ; the first tying it in a knot on 
the crown of the head, and the last at the back. 
Some Burmese beaux tie the knot to a side. San¬ 
dals are frequently used by both sexes, but neither 
shoes, boots, or stockings, under any circumstances. 
Umbrellas also are in very general use among all 
classes. These are among the principal insignia 
of rank or office; and the description of them, 
from those of plain brown varnished paper, to red, 
green, gilded, and plain white, the royal colour, 
distinguishes the quality of the wearer. 
The habit of the priesthood differs entirely 
from that of the laity, but has been so often 
described, that I need not recur to it. The head 
has not only no covering, but is, or ought to be, 
closely shaved, and the only protection to it when 
abroad is a small fan of palmyra-leaf. The colour 
