Page 408
An.1687
The Chinese Womens little Feet.
they carry only a large Fan made of Paper, or Silk, of the same fashion as those our Ladies have, and many of them are brought over hither: one of these every man carries in his hand if he do but cross the street, skreening his head with it, if he hath not an Umbrello with him.
The common apparel of the men, is a loose Frock and Breeches. They seldom wear Stock- ings, but they have Shoes, or a sort of Slippers ra- ther. The mens Shoes are made diversly: the women have very small Feet, and consequently but little Shoes; for from their Infancy their Feet are kept swathed up with bands, as hard as they can possibiy endure them; and from the time they can go till they have done growing they bind them up every night. This they do purposely to hin- der them from from growing, esteeming little Feet to be a great Beauty. But by this unrea- sonable custom they do in a manner lose the use of their Feet, and instead of going they only stum- ble about their Houses, and presently squat down on their Breeches again, being, as it were, con- fined to sitting all days of their lives. They fel- dom stir abroad, and one would be apt to think, that, as some have conjectured, their keeping up their fondness for this fashion were a stratagem of the mens, to keep them from gadding and gossip- ping about, and confine them at home. They are kept constantly to their work, being fine Needle- Women, and making many curious Embroideries, and they make their own Shoes; but if any Stran- ger be desirous to bring away any for Novelty's sake, he must be a great Favourite to get a pair of Shoes of them, tho he give twice their value. The poorer sort of Women trudge about streets, and to the Market, without Shoes or Stockings: and these cannot afford to have little feet, being to get their living with them.
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