er's art can
furnish, and often wrought in rich and elegant patterns. They are
passionately fond of flowers, the dark and abundant tresses of their
hair being always decorated with them, either real or artificial. Their
only other adornments are a tortoise-shell comb of delicate workmanship,
and a long steel pin with a ball of red coral in the end, passing
through their rich raven hair. They use powder about their necks and
shoulders pretty freely, and sometimes colour the under lip a deep
carmine, or even gold, a process which does not add to their personal
attractions. They wear no linen; a very thin chemise of silk crepe, in
addition to the loose outer garment, is all their covering. But it must
be remembered that the great aim of this people seems to be simplicity,
therefore we wont too minutely scrutinize their deficiencies of costume;
there is much to be said in its favour, it is neither immodest nor
suggestive. The feet are clothed in a short sock, with a division at the
great toe for the passage of the sandal strap. These sandals or clogs
are the most ungainly articles in their wardrobe. A simple lump of wood,
the length and breadth of the foot, about two or three inches in
altitude, and lacquered at the sides, is their substitute for our boot.
Their walk is a shuffling gait, the knee bent and always in advance of
the body.

The married women have a curious custom--now fast dying out--of blacking
their teeth and plucking out their eye-brows to prevent, as their
husbands say, other men casting "sheep's eyes" at them.

The males of the coolie class are very scantily clad, for all that they
wear is the narrowest possible fold of linen around the loins; but, as
if to compensate for this scarcity of rigging, they are frequently most
elaborately tattooed from head to foot.

A Japanese husband does not make a slave of his wife, as is too often
the case amongst orientals; she is allowed perfect liberty of action,
and to indulge her fancy in innocent pleasures to an unlimited extent.
Her lord is not ashamed to be seen walking beside her, nor does he think
it too much beneath him to fondle and carry the baby in public. They are
excessively fond of their children; the hundreds of toy shops and
confection stalls about the streets bearing testimony to this.

The old custom of dressing the hair, which some of the men still
affect, is rather peculiar. A broad gutter is shaved from the crown of
the head forward, whilst the