Salmagundi; or, The whim-whams and opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, esq. [pseud.] and others. By William Irving, James Kirke Paulding and Washington Irving. Printed from the original ed., with a preface and notes by Evert A. Duyckinck.

364 SALMAGUNDM.
time, nor the bitter succession of misfortunes that pursues me,
can shake from my heart the memory of former attachments. I
listen with tranquil heart to the strumming and prattling of
these fair sirens; their whimsical paintings touch not the tender
chord of my affections; and I would still defy their fascinations,
though they trailed after them trails as long as the gorgeous
trappings which are dragged at the heels of the holy camel of
Mecca; or as the tail of the great beast in our prophet's
vision, which measured three hundred and forty-nine leagues,
two miles, three furlongs, and a hand's breadth in longitude.
The dress of these women is, if possible, more eccentric and
whimsical than their deportment; and they take an inordinate
pride in certain ornaments which are probably derived from
their savage progenitors. A woman of this country, dressed
out for an exhibition, is loaded with as many ornaments as a
Circassian slave when brought out for sale. Their heads are
tricked out with little bits of horn or shell, cut into fantastic
shapes, and they seem to emulate each other in the number of
these singular baubles-like the women we have seen in our
journeys to Aleppo, who cover their heads with the entire shell
of a tortoise, and, thus equipped, are the envy of all their less
fortunate acquaintance. They also decorate their necks and
ears with coral, gold chains, and glass beads, and load their
fingers with a variety of rings; though, I must confess, I have
never perceived that they wear any in their noses-as has been
affirmed by many travellers. We have heard much of their
painting themselves most hideously, and making use of bear's
grease in great profusion; but this, I solemnly assure thee, is a
misrepresentation; civilization, no doubt, having gradually
extirpated these nauseous practices. It is true, I have seen two
or three of these females, who had disguised their features with