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PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
The chief peculiarities in the coloured race are, the extreme pliancy of limbs, attenuation of person, large black eyes, and a profusion of black curling hair. The men are generally under than above the middle size, but in most instances, possessed of good figures. The females are also small and slender, and are noted for an ambling gait, combined in many of them with an extreme affectation of manners. Many of them, unknowingly, are warm admirers of Lord Chesterfield's “ Advice," and practise the “airs and graces" before a looking-glass with an intenseness and indefatigability which, no doubt, that great philosopher would fully appreciate. We hear of the beautiful Narcissus ■ being so enamoured of his own lovely features, when reflected in the clear waters, that he pined into a jonquil. Now, I cannot take upon myself to state this is exactly the case with the West Indian brunettes; but they do certainly " lingering look," until a pretty considerable stock of patience would be exhausted. Their toilets are laborious in the extreme ; and they might exclaim, with Lady Mary W. Montague's “ Flavia,"— “I oft have sate, While hours unheeded pass'd, in deep debate How curls should fall, or where a braid to place ; If blue or scarlet best became my face !"
Sundays, marriages, and funerals, are the occasions appointed for making the greatest display. At other periods, a long dressing-gown, or " wrapper," as it is termed in Antigua, with a many-coloured cotton kerchief around their shoulders, and their heads perhaps enveloped in a similar article, and slip-shod shoes, constitute their attire. But when “ high-days and holidays" come, and an étalage is contemplated, one or two of their friends are generally called in to officiate as tire-women, and it must be allowed, their place is then no sinecure. The style of dress adopted by ladies of this rank, when abroad, is very superb !
Silks and satins of the most ap-