Toilet of an M-teita Damsel.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 85, 18 April 1885, Page 5

Toilet of an M-teita Damsel.

Axn now let mo ask the gontle reader, who is sufficiently curious nnd not too bashful, to assist at tho toilet of a swell M-toita damsel. You may feel a littlo awkward and confused at first, and quite properly a becoming blush will heighten agreeably tlie him nf unnr .lin.lcj , l_( «_,_„ <1,„ .I-.1,

huo ot your checks; but soon tho dark colour of tho chocolate damsel will

ho found to havo tho effect of, shall wo say, skin tights, and you will line, yourself quite at your case. As for tho maidon herself, she is unconscious of anything unbecoming, smiles merrily und coquettishly at you, and does not blush, for . .10 has no mysteries of the toilet to hide. There are

no dte.-s improvers, sho requires no padding, and o far i: content to bo i'.s nature made hor. On entering tho low circular hut, and sealing ofirsolvos on whatever object may bo mado to servo the purposo of stools, wo at last, by tho glimmer of the fire, and through tho stilling heat and choking smoke, doscry our fair friend, who intends to givo a demonstration of how thoy "gild rclinod gold and paint the lily " in Africa. Tlio rial clothing of the demonstrator is alroady on, or rather has never been oil".

This is a coating of lam)) black and castor oil, which emits an aroma that gallantry compels mo te call pleasing, but which, us an "a -do" to tho reader, I confess to be simply awful. Sho adds a now coating for the conquests of tho day, a>td shines, in the glimmsrlng of tlio I'M, liko a snail fresh from its shell, and bont on an evening stroll Tho roador will hero tako noto that this

joating of grease and dirt is tho only pro-.L'-tinn tho M-toita has against the oxcesuvo boats of tho day and tho chills at night. ft prevents too oxcossivo perspiration, md wards off chills. Before rccoiving ler visitors, tho damsel has rlonnod a small

picco of hide, about the size of a lady's pocket handkerchief, and literally covorcd with beads. Behind sho soems to havo got possession of tho tails of a missionary's dress coat. Theso sho has lengthened out a littlo, and also covered with beads, in various patterns, and now they dangle and flap about her logs in tho most airy man nor. Some, howover, vary tho fashion, and in placoof tho two tails thoy rojoico in tho posterior half of a Highland kilt. Our equanimity being now quite restored, and decency boing satisfied, whon we soo an opportunity to assist; wo do so \vith

alacrity. Hound tho nock, and hanging over tho breast, aro noxt placed from 150 to 200 strings of beads. Ovor all a hugo ruff, composed of a solid mass of beads, throe to four inches in diameter, is tied round the neck, actually causing tho ohm to bo elevated, and filling up tho wholo depression under it. The waist is noxt attended to, and wo view with admiration and astonishment tho physical strength displayed, and tho determination to bo in tho height of fashion at all costs, as she lays hold of from 200 to 300 more strings, with a variety of bead belts and bands, aud bestows thorn in that region which sentimental youths in other lands liko to oncirclo with

their arms. Wo draw a breath of relief as wo observe that tho main masses of beads are disposed of, and only tho arms and logs require to be sheathed in close-fitting bands. Thus having contrived to stow on her person from twenty to thirty pounds' weight, she turns horself round, to teceivc the tribute of admiration plainly depicted in our faces, and then squats down to rest, after the serious labour of dressing. Having no other excuse to prolong our interview, wo lay our offerings at her feet, and "kwaheri" ourselves out, drenched in perspiration, and as sooty from tho smoke as sweeps.—"Through Masai Land, by Josoph Thomson."