"There is something very picturesque in the simple costume of a peasant woman going to market. She has no flowing gown, but a short skirt, enveloped in a tapis, generally of cotton. It is simply a rectangular piece of stuff; as a rule, all blue, red, or black. It is tucked in at the waist, drawn very tightly around the loins, and hangs over the skirt a little below the knees, the open edges being at the back.
At times the better class wear the more becoming short skirt and tapis of silk or satin, with gold-lace embroidered chinelas. This dress is elegant, and adds a charm to the wearer.
The tapi is smaller. It is not used in the street; it is a sort of neglige apparel worn in the house only, or for going to the bath. The poorest classes go to the river-side to bathe in it. It is drawn all around from the waist downwards.
The figure of a peasant woman is erect and stately, due to her habit from infancy of carrying jars of water, baskets of orchard produce, etc., on her head with a pad of coiled cloth. The characteristic bearing of both sexes, when walking, consists in swinging the arms (but more often the right arm only) to and fro far more rapidly than the stride, so that it gives them the appearance of paddling." - by John Foreman, 1898-1902
At times the better class wear the more becoming short skirt and tapis of silk or satin, with gold-lace embroidered chinelas. This dress is elegant, and adds a charm to the wearer.
The tapi is smaller. It is not used in the street; it is a sort of neglige apparel worn in the house only, or for going to the bath. The poorest classes go to the river-side to bathe in it. It is drawn all around from the waist downwards.
The figure of a peasant woman is erect and stately, due to her habit from infancy of carrying jars of water, baskets of orchard produce, etc., on her head with a pad of coiled cloth. The characteristic bearing of both sexes, when walking, consists in swinging the arms (but more often the right arm only) to and fro far more rapidly than the stride, so that it gives them the appearance of paddling." - by John Foreman, 1898-1902
