Page 327
An. 1686
Their Habits.
sensible rising in their Foreheads. At a distance they appear very well ; but being nigh, these Im- pediments are very obvious. They have very small Limbs. They wear but two Garments ; a Frock, and a sort of Petticoat : the Petticoat is only a piece of Cloth, sowed both ends together : but it is made 2 foot too big for their Wastes, so that they may wear either end uppermost : that part that comes up to their Wastes, because it is so much too big, they gather it in their Hands, and twist it till it fits close to their Wastes, tucking in the twisted part between their Waste and the edge of the Petticoat, which keeps it close. The Frock fits loose about them, and reaches down a little below the Waste. The Sleeves are a great deal longer than their Arms, and so small at the end, that their Hands will scarce go through. Being on, the Sleeve fits in folds about the wrist, wherein they take great pride.
The better sort of people have their garments made of long Cloath ; but the ordinary sort wear Cloth made of Plantain-tree, which they call Saggen; by which Name they call the Plantain. They have neither Stocking nor Shooe, and the Women have very small Feet.
The Women are very desirous of the company of Strangers, especially of White Men; and doubt- less would be very familiar, if the Custom of the Country did not debar them from that freedom, which seems coveted by them. Yet from the high- est to the lowest they are allowed liberty to con- verse with, or treat Strangers in the sight of their Husbands.
familiar: intimate, affectionate, or physically forward custom: moral codes, laws, traditions debar: prohibit, forbid, ban, prevent
There is a kind of begging Custom at Mindanao, that I have not met elsewhere with in all my Tra- vels ; and which I believe is owing to the little Trade they have ; which is thus : When Strangers arrive here, the Mindanao Men will come aboard, and