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66

VEILS.

The upper garments were various: we have notice of a long and substantial shawl as being worn by Ruth, corresponding to the man's "cloke" it is called a vail," in our version:-" Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her : and she went into the city" (Ruth iii. 15). Another garment, also called a "vail" in our version, appears to have been a light mantle of large size, in which the whole person could be enveloped : we read of it in the following passages :-" Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, it is my master: therefore she took a vail and covered herself" (Gen. xxiv. 64, 65); "And she (Tamar) put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail and wrapped herself and sat in an open place" (Gen. xxxviii. 14). A simple vestment, probably of finer stuff, is again described in our version by the same title, though in the original the names are different :"The keepers of the walls took away my vail from me" (Cant. v. 7); and so again in Is. iii. 23. Lastly, the veil itself is referred to in Is. iii. 19, by a term which has reference to its fluttering motion, but which our version renders "mufflers."

It will be seen from the above statement that the veil was not worn in ancient as it is in modern times in countries where Mohammedanism prevails. In olden times the Israelitish women went about with their faces exposed to public view, and it was only on certain occasions, where modesty or some other motive prompted concealment, that their ample robes were worn in such a manner as to serve the purpose of a veil. In the present day it is rare to see the countenance of a female, and numerous kinds of veils are in use, as described in the following passages:-" The

face-veil is a long strip of white muslin, concealing the whole of the face except the eyes, and reaching nearly to the feet. It is suspended at the top by a narrow band, which passes up the forehead, and which is sewed, as are also the two upper corners of the veil, to a band that is tied round the head."

"The veil seems to be the most important part of their dress their chief care is always to hide their face. We often saw little girls running about naked -none, however, had the face uncovered, but all wore veils."LANE's Modern Egyptians, i. 72; NIEBUHR'S Arabia, i. 118.

"The women wear, in all, four kinds of veils; two which they wear when at home, and two which they wear when they go abroad. The first kind of these veils is made as a kerchief, falling on the back of the wearer by way of an ornament. The second kind passes under the chin, and covers the bosom. The third is the white veil which covers the whole of their persons; and the fourth is a kind of handkerchief, which

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ORNAMENTAL SHOES.

they wear round or over the face, and at the temples. This handkerchief, or veil, has a network at the place of the eyes, like point or thread lace, that it may be seen through."-CALMET.

"The head-veil worn in the house, in Egypt, is a long piece of white muslin, embroidered at each end with coloured silk and gold, or of coloured crape ornamented with gold thread, lama, and spangles. It rests upon the head, and hangs down behind, nearly, or quite, to the ground."-LANE'S Modern Egyptians, i. 71.

The shoes of the wealthy were made of "badger's or more probably seal skins (Ez. xvi. 10), which admitted of being dyed various colours. A similar material is still employed in the peninsula of Sinai, as we learn from the following passage in Robinson's Researches, i. 116:-"The superior also procured for me a pair of the sandals usually worn by the Bedawin

LADIES' HEAD-DRESSES.

211

of the peninsula, made of the thick skin of a fish which is caught in the Red Sea. .. The skin is clumsy and coarse, and might answer very well for the external covering of the tabernacle; but would seem hardly a fitting material for the ornamental sandals belonging to the costly attire of high-born dames in Palestine, described by the prophet Ezekiel."

The turbans of the Jewish ladies were no doubt of a handsome character; but we have no particular description of them. They were not improbably similar to those of the modern Egyptian ladies, which are thus described by Mr. Lane :- "The head-dress consists of a takeeyeh (i. e. a small, close-fitting cotton cap) and tarboosh (a red cloth cap also fitting closely to the head), with a square kerchief of printed or painted muslin, or one of crape, wound tightly round. A kind of crown, called 'kurs,' and other ornaments, are attached to the ladies' head-dress."-Modern Egyptians, i. 70.

ORNAMENTS, AND CARE OF THE PERSON.

ORNAMENTS WORN BY MALES. THE STAFF, SIGNET-RING, EAR

RINGS, AND BRACELETS-FEMALE ORNAMENTS.-NOSE-RINGS, EARRING, NECKLACE, BRACELETS, ARMLETS, ANKLETS, STRIDECHAINS, SCENT-BOTTLES, AMULETS, MIRRORS, GOLDEN CROWNS. -WASHING THE FEET.-WASHING THE HANDS.-BATHING.— WASHING THE FEET AFTER BATHING.-ANOINTING.-THE HAIR. PLAITED HAIR.-THE BEARD.-ROUNDING THE CORNER OF THE HAIR PROHIBITED.-PAINTING THE FACE.

FROM the dress we pass to the ornaments with which the Hebrews decorated their person, and which were remarkable both for their number and their value. The articles most appropriate to the patriarch or elder