PLATE XIV.
A FEMALE MORDVINE,
SHEWING THE BACK PART OF HER DRESS.
THE dress of a Mordvine of the Erzian tribe is not very different from
those of Mokshan. The married women, in general, dress more than
others, but there is no essential difference, except perhaps in the headdress.
They both wear drawers of linen, which reach only to their
knees. Their shifts are worked and embroidered in the most fantastic
manner, and fastened round their waist by a girdle; to this girdle they
fix on behind a small kind of apron, very much worked, and ornamented
with fringe and various kinds of tassels. When they wish to dress as
line as they can, the women fasten on all round their girdle a very wide
piece of cloth, every part of M^hich is highly worked, and ornamented
with fringe and tassels. They wear round their neck, and over their
shoulders and breast, an ornament, composed of a kind of enamel, and
of coins, or medals. They use also large ear-rings ; and wear bracelets
at the wrist. The elder women cover their head with a sort of cap,
which fits close, and falls down behind; while the younger wear a
high bonnet, narrower towards the top, and flat, ornamented with beads
and embroidery before, and with strings of beads and tassels behind.
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