SOME OF THE SHOES WORN BY DIFFERENT NATIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 17

SOME OF THE SHOES WORN BY DIFFERENT NATIONS.

The Portuguese shoo has a wooden sole and heel, with a vamp made of patent leather, fancifully showing the flesh side of the skin. The Persian footgear is a raised shoe, and is often a foot high, ft is made of light wood richly inlaid, with a strap extending over the instep. The Algerian shoo in appearance is not unlike the English wooden clogs. 'I be shoo is made ontiiely of leather in the simplest form, and usually without any ornamentation.

The Armenian shoe has a leather sole and heel, without a counter and backquarter. Thu vamp is made of felt, and is beautifully ornamented with needlework, done in coloured silk thread.

The Muscrvito shoe is hand-woven on a wooden frame, hut little attention being paid to the shape of the foot. Leather is sometimes used, hut the sandal is generally made of coloured silk cordage and woollen cloth. The Siam shoe has the form of an ancient canoe, with a gondola how and an epen top. The sole is made of wood, and tho upper of inlaid wood and cloth, and the exterior is elaborately ornamented in colours, and with gold and silver. The Mussulman’s shoe is of heavy leather. It is adjusted to the foot- by a wide leather strap, which runs from the heel and buckles over the instep. The only ornamentation is the fastening of two feather plumes on the right side of the toe.

Tho sandal worn l>y the Egyptians is composed of a sole made by sticking together three thicknesses of leather. This is held on the foot by a band passing across tho instep. Th > sandal is beauti fully stitched with threads of different colours.

The Grecian shoe is made almost entirely of leather, and has a thicklypadded solo with a slurp turnup toe, which is surmounted by a large hail of coloured wool or hair. t’iie shoe is fleece-lined, and is gorgeously decorated with beads and ornamental stitching. The Russian hoot is composed < f many pieces of morocco in several colours put together in a shape to please the taste o f the wearer or maker. The foot of the hoot is beautifully embus ted with thread in bright colours. Tho Hungarian shoe, or moccasin, is made of raw hide, prepared by a suncuring process. It is hound tnoollmr with in any thongs of raw hide. Lonps, or thongs, extend up.vtr.ls round llm ankle, and through the loops b p i-sad a strap which is buckled at the side. The clog worn by the Japanese is of wood, an 1, as viewe d from the aide, is tile slupe of a bny’3 sledge. In is fastened to the foot by a s’ring, which passes t.etwoun the great and s-.emd toe, ami aem.si the funner. A s'.rap, an inch in width and lined with linen, is carrie.l across the instep.