The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-08
An Egyptian Lady and Gentleman.

Egyptian men of all ranks shaved their
heads and their entire faces, except some
times portion of their chm, from which
short square beard was allowed to de-
pend. The barber was in attendance on
the great lord every morning, to remove
any hair that had grown, and trim his
beard, if he wore one. The lords wig
was also under his superintendent. This
consisted of numerous small curls fastened
carefully to reticulatcd groundwork,
Which allowed the heat Of the head free
escape. The dress, even of the highest
class, was simple. 1t consisted primarily,
Of the shenti, or kilt, short garment,
folded or f1utcd, which was worn around
the loins, and fastened in front with a Cir
die. The material might be linen or wool
len, according to the state of the weather
or the wearcr's inclination. Over this the
great lord invariably wore an ample rAbe
of fine linen, reaching from the shoulders
to thu ankles, and provided with full
sleeves, which descended nearly, if not
quite, to the elbows. A second girdle,
which may have been of leather, confined
the outer dress about the waist. The arms
and lower parts of the legs were left bare
and in the earliest times the feet wero also
bare, sandals beng unknown; but they
came into fashion at tho beginning of the
fifth dynasty. and thcEceforwa1d were Or
dinarily worn by the rich, whether men or
women. They were either of leather lined
with cloth, or of sort of basket work
composed of palm leaves or the stalks of
the papyrus. The shape varied at differ
ent periods. Having dressed himself, with
the assistance Gf mis- valet, the Egyptian
lord put on his ornaments, which consisted
commonly of collar of beads or chain of
gold round the neck, armlcts and bracelets
OF gold, inlaid with lapis lazuli and tur-
quoisc, round the arms anklets of the same
character round the ankles, and rings upon
the fingers Of both hands. Thus attired,
the lord took his baton or stick, and. quit.
ting his dressing room made disappearance
III the salon or eating apartment.
Meanwhile his spouse had performed her
own toilet, which was naturally somewhat
more elaborate than her husbands. Egyp.
tan ladies wore their own hair, which
grow in great abundance, and must have
occupied the tlre-woman for considerable
period. A doublc-toothed comb was used
for comblng 1t, and 1t may also have been
brushed, though hair brushes have not been
discovered. Ultimately, it was separated
into numerous distinct tresses, and plated
by threes into thirty or forty fine plaits,
which were then gathered into three mas.
ses, one behind the head, and tho others at
either side Of the face. or else were allowed
to fall in single continuous ring round
the head and shoulders. After it had been
thus arranged, the hair was confined by a
fillct, or by head dress made to initiate
the wings, back and tail, and even some
times the head, of a vulture. On their
bodies, some females wore only single
garment, which was pctticoat. either tied
at the neck or supported by straps over the
shoulders, and reaching ON the neck or
breast to the ankles; but those of the up.
per class had first, over this, colored sash
passed twice round the waist and tied in
front, and secondly, large, loose robe,
made Of tho finest linen, with full, open
sleeves reaching TO tho elbow. They wore
sandals from the came dato as men, and
had similar ornaments, with the addition
OF ear rings. These often manifested an
elegant taste, being In tho form of scrpents
or terminating in the heads of animals or
OF goddesscs. The application of cohl or
stibium to the eyes seems to have formed
! an ordinary part OF the toilet.
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