The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-06
BELLIES OF MANILA.
They Are as Beautiful Creatures as One
Could Wish.

The native women of the Philippines
are. as rule, excessively pretty and en-
gaging creatures, with supple figures ac-
centuated by The :hinness of their gar
lnonts, beautiful languishing eyes, shaded
with long lashes, and luxuriant blue
black hair. This last is the chief glory
Of the Philippine beauty.
1t is long, rich thick, made glossy both
by the care bestowed on it and its fire.
quent annointings with cocoanut oil.
Often, too, it is cleaned and washed with
lemon juice and oil, which has been made
fragrant by infusions of odoriferous flow
ers. Some of the women wear it hanging
down their backs, entirely unadorned
others, especially the matrons. build it
up in kind of coil, or knot, held by a
golden comb and ornamented by pins, or
very frequently adorned by bright,
fragrant flower
They scorn bonnets or hats, but often
throw handkerchief over their eads,
| and if the heat of the sun is very intense
they carry a psrasol for protection.
| Another admirable feature nearly all
| the women possess are liquid and Ian
gushing eyes, which are used with tell
| ing effect, and their third vanity is their
very finely shaped feet, that never know a
stocking, but which are thrust into Slip
pers without heels, tastefully and elabor,
ately embroidered with gold or silver
| thread.
The walk of the womeniis graceful, but
rather coquettish, and when the clog is
donned on wet days they move with a
very peculiar swing, which is quite dis
tinct from the Japanese totter.
| The thumb nail on the right band is al
lowed to grow very long, which assists
them in playing the guitar, their faYorite
instrument.
| The dress of the Tagal women consists
of little skirt made of the famous pima
cloth, having wide, short sleeves.
| This is worn loose, quite unbound to
the figure, and reaches to the waist.
Around it is grit petticoat, called ssaya,
but always of gay colors. Sometimes 1t
is also of pima cloth. the quality and col
oring frequently very beautiful and some
times cheap and common
| Out doors another article of dress, an
apiz, or shawl, is wrapped tightly around
the loins and waist above the saya, and
generally 1t Is black or dark blue, with
narrow white stripes. A profuaion OF
bracelets and chains aud earrings, all of
beautifully worked gold or silver, usually
completes the toilet of q Tagal beauty.
The more opulent possess very valuable
jewels, and often are seen with necklaces
and bracelets OF diamonds and pearls
1 l,a- Fo1l ol L;>ft -
Tagal woman wears crucihx or little
bag of relics, suspended ty chain. Some
times she will have rosary of coral or
pearls and medals of copper or gold, bear
ing the figure of Our Lady Of Mexico or
of Guadalupe.
The Philippine women of all ages
children and old women, as we'll as young
girls and matrons-smoke long cigars,
chew the betel nut, dance, swim and ride;
but the great ambition of every woman is
to possess dress, scarf, or at least a
handkerchief of the famous pima cloth.
There is 10 more beautiful fabric man
ufactured in any part Of the world than
this, which is made from the fiber of the
pineapple leaf, and Is quite expensive; a
common shirt costs from 81 to $40; a
whole dress costs at least $40, and no less
a sum than $3.50 has been paid for a
| single garment.
A good average gscarf or handkerchief
brings from $25 to $50. When embroidered
a scarf of pima sometimes costs as much
as $3.50.
The most important industry that the
women Of the Philippines are engaged in
is tobacco In the making of cheroots
none but women are employed, and there
are no less than 1000 busy In the factories
OF Manila alone.
Men make the cigarillos, or small
cigars. which are smoked by the natives,
but women only are allowed to prepare
and roll this cigars 1t is estimated that
81 200 women lind employment in this
business and only 800 men. Each room
In the enormous factories contains from
800 to 1000 women. all of whom are scat.
ed, or rather squatted on the floor.
AT Intervals little round tables are
placed, and at every one of these an elder
~ matron is stationed to keep watch over
the dozens of younger women and girls.
The noise is absolutely maddening, as
| stones are used for beating out the leaf.
A cigarmaksr earns from Sc to $40 a
month, which is quite sufficient to pro-
vide her with necessary comforts, and
leave a balance for dress.
The married women whose husbands
earn their living for them in the field or
factory, keep house in primitive fashion
The patriarchal custom of making the
lover serve in the house of his intended
BRIDES father is universal in the Philip-
pines.
When the marriage takes place there is
usually feast of several days, and The
bride of fifteen years is then taken to the
| little house which her husband has built
| with his own hands.-San Francisco Ex-
aminer.
GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO.
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