The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-05-24

occasionally. an African tribe has been
found. il wh.c' the whole population were
naked luz Instances Of this primitive sim
, pl.cIty are rare In many tgi5es il tie cen
tr4i part u tie continent, however the
men go entirely without clothing. While the
women wear narrow girlle OF saeepskia.
In oth-rs tie young people OF 5Osh sexes
ls- uo clothing. while .ae elder part Of the
community use 4 gird.e Of cloth, OF hand
.ul of leaves When .le people Of Guinea
wc.e lrst y.s..tl by Hafopeans. Tie former
wore only narrow grille u cloth, made
from the bark Of trees. !, isuslal for chill
drel IN ali the tribes. II ~ without cloth
/ ing unit! eight or ten years u age. Bat
anioLs Tie Fel.4tals. and other tribes Of
/ Central Afs.ca which have made some i'd
vanccs tOEaris civilization. more cl0thin-
IS used the poorest people. indeed, laye
only 80 snail piece Of cloth fastened about
/ taeir Joins. bat those ia better c.rclmsian-
ces wrap Themselves in large square
piece. which constitutes The usual dress Of
+ those living near the coast. But warriors
D
cloths covered with al kinds Of embroi-
deFy, according 10 the fancy Of the wearer.
Bnt on public occasions, especially in the
larger Kingdoms, the principal civil and
military officers appear in a fuu dress u
caps, vests. trowsers and boots, ornament
ca IN most fantastic manner. In the
le.laiah empire. tie best society have be-
come quite civilized by intercourse with the
Moors. and dress much after their man
ner
but u Tie African nations expend only a
little labor upon their clothing they equal
The people oi the colder regions by The care
they lesiow upon their person. and he pro-
fusion and variety of their ornaments. The
practice Of making incisions upon the skin
IS general among the negro nations; each
nation having usually mode Of marking
a.4oulia~ o., i--.ir Son. ----.--.
Tie whole body: in others the face only is
d-sieured by gashes, or by dots in tie skin
raised up like wens.
Bracelets Of ivory are worn III many
parts by both sexes, Of such weight and
size IS seriously 10 impede the motions Of
their limbs. Some Of those weighed IS
ounces. They are worn on both legs.
wherewith. says Hakluytz, the quaint voy-
ager, "they arc 50 CALLED they are in q
manner made lame thereby, Yet tLsy viii
by no means put them of" But Lander
saw women who wore ankets OF tour or
five pounds weight. He saw others, both
men and women who wore immensely
large ivory rings on their arms and legs at
least an inch in thickness AMI SIX inches ia
depth. Tie women could scarcely walk.
Tho females, always more fond Of orna-
ments than men, Wear silver rings in their
ears; bracelets Of horn, glass, brass cop
per and silver, according to the quality Of
the wearer, hoop the arm; the neck Is COW
cred with beads. and strings Of glass or
coral. strings Of beads enclrcie the waist;
the alkiets arc OF brass, copper, ivory, or
siivor; while rings OF pewter, brass. cop
per. or silver. grace the fingers, and some
times the toes. In addition 70 these at
fractions. the women Of some nations dye
their hair blue with indigo, as well as their
hands and feet; the toe and finger nails are
stained red with henna, and the teeth and
lips are made Of the same attractive hue.
Travellers inform Us that the higher class Of
females are known TO spend several hours
a day IN the contemplation and adjustment
Of their charms: and female slaves. when
sitting al their work, are usually provided
with small mirrors in which, at intervals
Of few minutes, they enjoy the pleasure
Of beholding their own persons.
The women Of Africa, however, have
more reason TO rely upon the attractions Of
nature than upon those Of art They have
no occasion 10 envy the splendid and costly
draperies OF their sex in the colder regions;
for much clothing conceals the form, con-
strains the limbs, and stiflens the motions.
The natural beauty OF the human form,
with lis grace and hexioillty Of notion are
better adapted TO excite the admiration OF
men, than any covering however rare or
curious mat can be placed upon It; ana II
Is remarkable fact that, Notwithstanding
Ihe usual preJudices against the negro race
every "iile traveller becomes eloquent IN
expressing his admiration oi Tie beauty
dignity ana Sraceiulne.s Of the haii-Daked
female savages Of Africa.
Denham and Clapperton praise the beau
tlinl forms, expressive eyes, peary teeth
aud excessive cleanliness OF the black Ia
dies OF ooudan ana Bornou- They admit,
however that they were black deyilish
black These were half covered by SIN
gle blue wrapper
-''o ''~' ~
- 80. ,..,,'7,,,,.o-,,,. = - =.
- 80. So -, -. -.
,.,,,.,r,o,,, o.,
,,--.-.,
=. ~a,.1I,s, -.5 ~
-. 80 4, - - a. -, - nc
- - -, ''-,.''0 . - - =
-. -, " 80 =