The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-18
The Latest African Fashions.

now THE PEOPLE OF ALL CLASSES DRESS AND
DON'T DRESS IN SIERRA LEONE.
tMonrovia Correspondent Of Charleston News ana
Tho dress nj the fishermen generally con-
sists OF rag about the loins. The ordi-
nary Iaborers. porters, and 1ongshoremen
usually wear loose thin shirts and trousers,
although they frequently have only the lat
fer. and in other instances what resembles
n long bag, cut open ut the ends, with two
holes cut above for the arms. All are bare
footed, and most are barelegged below the
knee. The almost invariable hcad-coV-
erjn~ is q askul.cap Of gaudy color. CLERKS,
messengers. store and shop-keepers, ana
those belonging to that class, usually wear
clothes o? European cut and make, OF dli-
ferent colors and fashionings,s with SHOES
and hats like ANYBODY else. Then come the
Mussumaus, dressed in long, pure white
and flowing robes, not unlike an Episcopal
minister's surplice, with sandals. secured
across the instep with huge buttons. and
tall, brimlesS linen or cloth caps. These are
the fellows who come in from the country
and are "not at work to-day" Their num-
bier brethren who are at work ia con-
dition OF life in which Il MuSsulnan never
is II he can possibly help hlmsel0 wear
gowns OF coarse blue cotton, generally dirty
but of the same shape. Not only these foi-
lowers OF the prophet, but many others OF
the colored citizens OF Sierra Leoye have
SUSPENDED around their neckY leather
pouches. bits of stone, DC, containing
charms. The dress OF the women is as di-
verse as the mems. Sometimes they wear
q single long. loose garment OF thin cot
ton gathered in at the waist. Others
have a gaudily-colored robe wrapped
around their waists and falling below
their ankles, with q spare piece hanging
in front which they pull up over
their bosoms when strange man is ap-
preaching. Very frequently an infant is
bound up in the folds OF this garment, rest
ing quietly behind and forming Il hustle.
The mother always looks profoundly un-
conscious of and unconcerncd about this
burden, which is invariably quiet. Every
body, unless engaged in commercial pur-
suits. manages TO get some bright color in
troduce in his or her dress, except the
aristocratic Mussulman in his snotlcss white,
and even his cap is often bright red or
scarlet.
The laboring people OF both sexes are
generally very erect, and walk with what IN
a white man would be swagger, but in
them, with their free limbs, is merely Il
graceful independence. The businessmen
have the bllsincss-man'S usual StOop, me-
thodical walk, and steady look, and generally
carry an umbrella and wear broad nat. /
think these natives al usually very strong,
and some Of them are ma@niticently shaped.
especially the women. The most beautiful
and massive pair OF female shoulders have
ever seen saw here. Their owner had 4
heavy load on her head, but walked under
Ii as straight rs an a: row. and the shoulders
lust spoken OF were studies for an artist,
being straight, square, clean-cut, and well
rounded-atogether perfect. Almost all
the overland transportation is done on hui
man heads, there being only three horses
in the entire colony. 4 woman will walk
into town at good pace from miles in the
country, with child swinging at her
back, and from thirty to seventy pounds
OF produce on her head, carrying
herself as well and showing as little
fatigue as an average American or
English woman would after a miles
uncncumbered stroll. What the men can
carry | am afraid to say. | saw one start
home with two huge iron pots balanced on
his head. weighing probably one hundred
pounds. and he looked as il he hardly felt
them. The laborers whom we met at the
wharf bore two two-oallon dcmiohns OF
rum in each hand and another on their
heads I saw no woman whose dress would
forbid her appearance on the streets OF an
American city. The children, 10 about
eight years old, wear very little-yery often
nothing at all. Now you have the people as
they appear on the streets.