Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-24
Women i'm Afghanistan.

The dress of Afghan women, especially
those whose husbands have rank or
wealth, is extremely picturesque. A
short tightly fitting bodice of green blue
or crimson silk confines the bust, and
buttons closely up to the throat. The
bodice is generally embroidered with
gold, and then becomes so stiff and I'M
yielding that it is virtually a corset. In
this cold weather the short arms of the
sari are continued down to the wrist,
and the vest itself is padded with wool
for the sake of warmth. Trousers a la
Turc, baggy and flowing as Fatima's,
and tightly fastened at the ankles, a
broad silk kummerbund of almost end
less length, with the ends SO disposed
that they become skirts, dainty white
socks, and a tiny slipper or shoe, gold
embroidered-such is the indoor dress
of Cabulese lady while covering and
hiding all save feet and ankles is the
voluminous white garment drawn over
the head and face, and falling to the
heels. These yelled beauties have jewelry
scattered over their forehead, hands,
wrists, arms and ears; while handsome
gold loops secure the yashmak at the
back of the head; the hair being lightly
drawn from the forehead, and tied tightly
into knot, Grecian fashion. The length
of silk kummerbund which circles a
lady's waist is sometimes astonishing;
one saw must have been twelve yards
long by eighteen inches broad, and the
end was even then not forthcoming.
The slippers and shoes are of Cabulese
make, and are very pretty. On a pale
green background beautiful patterns are
worked with gold and silver thread and
"a,
like that of a fairy slipper than one for
daily use. But stout leather sole is
put on, with high heels rudely bound
complete. The stalls in which their
slippers and shoes are made are the gay
est in the whole bazaar. A Cabulese
lady's foot is small, almost to deformity,
and the baggy trousers by contrast make
them appear exceedingly petite. From
the few faces seen and those chiefly of
old or passee women, it is difficult to
Judge of the famed beauty Cabulese are
said to boast of. The children are GER
tainly, as a whole, the prettiest | have
ever seen. Their compilations are red
and white, with tinge of olive pervad-
ing the skin, eyes black and lustrous,
well-shaped features, teeth to make a
Western beauty envious, and bright, in
telligent looks that sadly belle the race
to which they belong. Their mothers
must be beautiful, for their fathers are
generally villainous looking; the men
losing all the pleasing traits which as
boys they possessed. The lady have
described as seen in the zenana for a
moment was certainly handsome and
was far lighter in complexion than a
Spaniard; her eyes were really worthy
of the praises sung by Hafiz, but the
sensuous lips were little too full and
pouting. It was just such face as one
imagines in harem, and would be in
keeping with the languorous life of a
voluptuary to whom sensuality is a guild
ing star. Such faces always lack char
acter, and would soon prove insipid in
the eyes of the West. The Cabulese
lady, when journeying, is either carried
in an elaborate wickerwork cage Gov
cred with the inevitable flowing linen,
or rides, Amazon fashion, on pony be-
hind her lord Calcutta Pioneer.