Page 196 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

from wide-open or half-closed lids deeply shaded by
long black lashes. Her nose was small, straight,
and well and the curved disclosed
cut, smiling lips
teeth of perfect shape and singular whiteness. In
either cheek a dimple, lesong mati as the Malays
y
call it, the dimple which so fascinates the beholder
that it will lure him even unto death. Her jet-
black hair, fringing the forehead in an oval frame,
was drawn straight back over the well-shaped head
and fastened in a simple knot with four ruby-studded
hairpins ; the heads firmly fixed against one side of
the coil, while the golden points protruded for an
inch or more beyond the other.
Her dress was that worn by all ladies of rank,
and usually consisted of a silk skirt of softly-
blended colours reaching to the ankles and fastened
at the waist by a belt with a large golden buckle.
The only other garment was a satin jacket of some
dark colour on which were stitched cunningly-
wrought designs of beaten gold. This jacket had
a tight collar, and the close-fitting sleeves were
fastened by a long row of jewelled buttons reaching
almost from wrist to elbow it was loose at the
;
waist and just covered the belt. Tiny heelless
shoes, embroidered with gold and silver thread,
completed the attire.
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