Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1841-07-29
Bathing and Bed Room Sccnc..-Therc


Bathing and Bed Room Scene..-There
was an enjoyment in this bath greater
even than that Of cooling our heated bo'
dies. 1t was the moment Of golden sun
set. We stood up to our necks in water
clear as crystal, and calm as that OF some
diminutive lake, at the margin Of chan
mel along which the stream was rushing
with arrowy speed. On each side were
mountains several thousand feet high,
with their tops iIlumed by the sitting sun;
on point above US was palm leafed hut
and before it naked Indian sat looking
at US, while focks Of parrots, whose bril-
liant Ihumage, almost in thousands, were
flying over our heads, catching up our
words and filling the air with their noisy
mockngS. 1t was one Of those beautiful
scenes that so rarely occur in human life,
almost realizing dreams. Old as we we're,
we might have become poetic, but that
Augustine came down to the opposite
bank, and with cry far above the chat
tering Of parrots and the loud murmurs
Of the river, called us TO supper.
We had one moment Of agony when
we returned to our clothes. They lay
extended upon the bank, embIems Of men
who had seen better days. The setting
sun which shed over all a soft and mellow
lustre, laid bare the seams oc mud and dirt,
and made them hideous. We had but
one alternative, and that was TO go without
them. But as this seemed to be trenchint
upon the properties Of life, we picked
them up and put them on Reluctantly -
amnot sure, however, but that we made
an unnecessary sacrifice of personal COM
fort. The properties Of life are matters
of conventional usage. Our host was q
don and when we presented our letter
he received US with great dignity in a
single garment, loose, white and very la
comic, not quite reaching his knees.
The dress Of his wife was no less easy;
somewhat in the style ofthe old fashioned
short gown and pettiCoat, only the short
gown and whatever else is usually worn
under il were wanting, and their place
supplied by a string Of beads with large
cross at the end. A dozen men and half.
grown boys, naked except the small coy
ering formed by rollingsthe trowsers up
and down in the manner have mentioned,
were lounging about the house and wo-
men and girls in such extremes Of I'M
dress, that a string Of beads seemed quite
a covering for modesty.
Mr.. G. and were in rather an awk4
ward predcament for the night. The
general reception room contained three
beds, made Of strips OF cow.hide interaced.
The don occupied one he had not MUCK
undressing to do, and what little he had,
he did BY pulling off his shirt. Another
bed was at the foot of my hammock. |
was doing, when opened my eyes, and
saw girl about seventeen sitting sideways
upon it smoking a cigar. She had strip
cd piece Of cotton cloth tied around her
waist, falling below her knees g; the rest
Of her dress Of the same which Nature be-
slows alike upon the belle Of fashionable
life and the poorest girl in other words,
it was the same as that Of the don's wife,
with the exception OF the string of beads.
At first thought it was something | had
conjured up in dream and as walked
up perhaps raised my head, for she gave
a few quick puffs of her cigar, drew
cotton sheet ever her head and shoulders
and lay down to sleep. | endeavored to
do the same. | called to mind the pro-
verb, that travelling makes strange bed
fellows. | had slept pell nell with Turks
Greeks, and Arabs. was beginning q
journey in new country, and it was my
duty TO conform to the customs of the
people--;o be prepared for the worst, and
submit with resignation 10 Whatever might
beiall me.
As guests, it was pleasant TO feel that
the family made no strangers to US. The
wife Of the don retired with the same Gers
emonies. Several times in the night We
were walked by the ciinking Of flint and
steel, and saw one Of our neighbors light
ing cigar. At daylight the wife Of the
don was enjoying her morning slumber.
While was dressing she babe me good
morning, removed the cotton covering
from her shoulders, and rose and dressed
Tor the day.