Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-08-07
BATHING AND COSTUMES.


There was eui3yment in this bn tn greater
even than that Of cooling heated bodies. Ii
was the moment OF golden sunset. We stood
up To our necks IN water clear crystal, and
calm some dtfninutlve lake, at the margin of u
channel along which the stream was rushing " iih
arrowy speed. Ga each side were mountains
several thousand feet high, with their tops Iumi-
mated by the setting sun; point above US
was palm leated hnl, and before II naked In
dian sat looking at US; while f1cks OF parrots,
with brilliant plumage, almost in thousands, were
ilyInG our heads catching mp words, and
filing The air with their noisy mockngs. 1t was
one OF those beautiful scenes that rarely occur
human life, almost realizing dreams. Old as
we were, we might have become poetic, bat that
AugustIu came down to the opposite bank, and,
with cry that rose above the chattering Of par
rots aud loud murmer Of the river, called to
supper.
We had one monen, of agony when we re-
turned To our clothes. They lay extended upon
the bank enbIems Of men who had seen better
days Tho setting sun, which shnh n"nr al q
mud and dirt, and made them hideous. we had
but one alternative, and that was to 90 without
them. But. this seemed to be trenchinr upon
the proprIeiles OF life, picked them up and
put them on reluctant. AIN nor sure, however,
but that we made an unnecessary sacrifice Of
personal comfort. The prophecies Of life nro
matters OF conventional usage Our host was n
don; and when we presented our letter he recelv-
ed US with great dignity in q single garment,
loose, white, and very laconic, not quite reaching
his knees. The dress of his wife was no less
easy; somewhat in The style of the old fashioned
shorty gown and petticoat, only the shortgown and
whatever else IL usually under It were
wanting. and their place supplied by a string Of
beads with large at the end. \ dozen
men aud haIfgrown boys, naked except the small
covering formed by rolling the trousers up and
down in the manner | mentioned, were IoungIng
n ,0ut the house. md and ris IN
extremes of undress, thar string Of beads SEEM
ed quite covering for nodestv
Mr.. c. and were IN rather bad predcament
for the night. The general reception room con
tanned three beds, made Of strips of cowhidc in
terIaced. The don occupied one: he had not
much undressing 10 Do, but what little he had, he
did by pulling of his shirt. Another bed at
the foot of my hammock. | was doing, when |
opened my eyes, and saw girl about seventeen
sitting sIdeway upon II, smoking cigar. She
had piece Of striped cotton cloth tied around
her waist, and falling below her knees; the rest
of her dress was the same which Nature beslows
alike upon The fashionable Gelle and the poorest
girl; IN other words, II was the same as that Of f
the don's wife, with the exception Of tho string Of
beads. Al first thought IL was some thing had
conf nred up dream; and as | walked up per-
haps | raised my head, for she gave few quick {
pufis Of her cigar, drew cotton sheet over her
head and shoulders, and lay down 10 sleep. en- +
deavored to DO The same. ! called to mind the /
proverb, that ''travelling makes strange bedfe!- +
lows" ! had slept pelimeH with Greeks, Turks, /
and Arabs. was beginning journey IN rev
il was my duty to conform 10 the Gus
toms ii the people; TO be prepared for The worst,
and submit with resignation to whatever might
befall me.
As guests it was pleasant to feel that the fami
" made no strangers Of US. The wife Of the don
retired with the same ceremonies. Several times
in the night Weakened by the clicking Of
flint and steel, and saw one Of our neIghbors
lighting cigar At daylight the wife Of the
don was enjoying her mornings slumber. While
was dressing she bada me good morning, reno
we'd The cotton covering from her shoulders, and
arose dressed for the day
We started early, and for distance our
road lay along the banks Of the Montague. al
most as beautiful by morning as BY evening light
In hour commenced ascending the spur Ct
4 mountain; and reach the top. followed The
ridge. II was high and narrow. comma ndiag on
hoth sides almost boundless view, and seemed
selected for picturesque effect. The scenery was
graad. but The II nd wild and unculivated. with
out fences, enclosures. habitatons. "A few
cattle were wandering wild over the great ex-
oanse. but without, imparting that domestic as
pee, which in other countries attends the pres