f their apparel
is all one, as well the noble man as the simple: the onely difference is in
the finenes of the cloth, which is cloth of Bombast one finer then another,
and they weare their apparell in this wise: First a white Bombast cloth
which serueth for a shirt, then they gird another painted bombast cloth of
foureteene brases, which they binde vp betwixt their legges, and on their
heads they weare a small tock of three braces, made in guize of a myter,
and some goe without tocks, and cary (as it were) a hiue on their heades,
which doeth not passe the lower part of his eare, when it is lifted vp:
they goe all bare footed, but the Noble men neuer goe on foote, but are
caried by men in a seate with great reputation, with a hat made of the
leaues of a tree to keepe him from the raine and Sunne, or otherwise they
ride on horsebacke with their feete bare in the stirops. [Sidenote: The
order of the womens apparel in Pegu.] All sorts of women whatsoeuer they
be, weare a smocke downe to the girdle, and from the girdle downewards to
the foote they weare a cloth of three brases, open before; so straite that
they cannot goe, but they must shewe their secret as it were aloft, and in
their going they faine to hide it with their hand, but they cannot by
reason of the straitnes of their cloth. They say that this vse was inuented
by a Queene to be an occasion that the sight thereof might remoue from men
the vices against nature, which they are greatly giuen vnto; which sight
should cause them to regard women the more. Also the women goe bare footed,
their armes laden with hoopes of golde and Iewels: And their fingers full
of precious rings, with their haire rolled vp about their heads. Many of
them weare a cloth about their shoulders instead of a cloake.

Now to finish that which I haue begunne to write, I say, that those parts
of the Indies are very good, because that a man that hath litle, shall make
a great deale thereof; alwayes they must gouerne themselues that they be
taken for honest men. For why? to such there shal neuer want helpe to doe
wel, but he that is vicious, let him tary at home and not go thither,
because he shall alwayes be a beggar, and die a poore man.

* * * * *

The money and measures of Babylon, Balsara, and the Indies, with the
customes, &c. written from Aleppo in Syria, An. 1584. by M. Will. Barret.

BABYLON:

The weight, measure, and money currant there, and the custome