The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-17
WOMAN IN THE EAST.
A Peep Into Indian Homes-H0w the
Hind0n Women Dress.

But none OF these women can either wash or
sew The washermen are separate caste, Of
in large towns they live In quarter by
themselves, according to the tendency of
all trades In the East; and the very poorest,
who have anything to wash, give the articles
to the dhobi, who takes it down to some
pond or river, soaks it, whirls 1t over his
head and thumps it on a stone, or on rough
ened plank, until it is Clean In the same way
everything that requires making, as the mems
coats and trousers, is made by the tailor;
hardly any Of the women, save those vino have
been taught in schools, knowing how to hold q
needle Thus In European household, If a
string or button wants sewing on, only a
very accomplished ayah or ladys maid can
do it. She generally carries off the garment
part OF her duty to lecture and scold. But q
native woman can be very neatly dressed
with scarcely stitch in her clothing. They
all wear the sari, cloth OF any material from
the coarSest cotton up to a fine muslin, silks,
satins or brocade. 1t is nine yards long, and
sufficiently wide to reach from the waist to
the feet. This is skilfulIy gathered up in
plaits held In front, and the remainder wound
round the body; the plaits are then tucked
firmly in at the waist, forming a full and
statue. Two or three yards, have been left
loose, which are either folded over the bust
and shoulders as by the female coolies at
Bombay, or brought over the head SO
as to form O vail. A short jacket completes
the costume Of those who are better off, and
a longer jacket or little shirt down to the hips
is worn in the northern part Of India and
by the Mussulman women. The ends of
these saris have borders of many colors, Of
ten a yard and more in depth. There are all
marks and edgings for particular casts, some
thing like the different tartans in the High
lands-though in these days no bad cOIise-
quences would follow from giving q Campbell
tartan to a Maekenzie-but,g green being the
sacred color of the Mussu1mans, q Hfndoo
woman with green fringe to her garment
would run some risk and it would probably
be torn off. The favorite investment for
their savings is in silver or gold ornaments
and jewels. The women working on coffee
ployed in making the railways or canals are
continually adding q new silver bangle to
those which already load their arms, and
richer women are literally covered with orna-
ments. Married women are recognized by
their nose-rings Not content with one pair
of earrings, like their European sisters, they
wear half a dozen or more round the edge Of
each ear; ornaments of many kinds on the
head; fringes OF pearls and other jewels on
the forehead; tassels at the ends of their
which is the tali-which when once tied on
makes the marriage indssoluble; belts round
the waist, bands on the hips, arm bands
rows OF bracelets on the wrists, rings on the
fingers ana rings on the toes, and juggling
anklets. The men wear bangles on the arms
and ankles, waist belts, rings and earrings.
The rank of a native officer is known by q
heavy gold necklace of one row for a lieuten-
ant, of two for a captain, which he wears over
his European uniform, as well as in his ma
tive undress, and with which, if Mohamme-
dan, his widow sometimes adorns herself. as
q mark OF her dignity.
A servant will often beg for an advance OF
pay to complete the number of rupees neces-
sary to make belt or bangle. Then, when
hard times come, the jewels are pawned or
sold, bit by bit, till there is nothing left. The
mint at Bombay has certain weight of orna-
ments brought every month to be exchanged
for coin. When the famine began, this rapidly
increased to an unheard of amount, and soon
gold ornaments were brought as well as sill
yer, showing that the distress had reached q
richer class. The upper class of women,
known as "Gosha Literally, Corner
are never seen outside their houses; and one
of the civilians who was activein relieving the
Orissa famine ten years ago, relates that he
Frequently found skeletons OF these women,
and Of lower class still, wrapped In tattered
clothing and with worthless ornaments (of
glass, etc. on their fleshless bones, lying in
their houses, though there were relief camps
within three Or four miles"