The dress of Greeks of the wealthier classes closely resembles that of the Turks. A cotton shirt made like a woman's chemise, cotton drawers, a vest and jacket of silk or stuff; a pair of large loose frowners drawn up a little above the ankle, and a short sock, make the inner part of their dress. Next above this is a long shawl, wrapped in wide folds round the loins ; and a large gown or pelisse, with loose sleeves, forms the outer garment. The bead is covered with a calpac instead of a turban. They wear slippers or quarter boots, which the privileged Greeks may have of a yellow colour, but even they are not permitted to wear robes of green,—the fa vourite colour of Mehemet. The common people have their trowsers descending but a little below the knee, with bare legs, and a slipper pointed and turned up at the toe. Above this they have a jacket, and on their heads the little red Albanian scull cap.
The dress of the females approaches much nearer to that of the Frank ladies, and need not here be particularly described. That of the richer females is profusely ornamented with gold and silver trim mings. They wear bracelets of precious stones, and strings of gold coins round their arms and necks. They colour the inside of the eye-lashes with a com position, and use washes and paints to improve their complexion. With the young women it is a prevail ing fashion to dye the hair of an auburn colour. When abroad, the Greek ladies are muffled up in a wrapping cloak, and wear a long veil, which, how ever, they frequently throw aside, when not in the presence of the Turks. They live almost as much becluded. as the Turkish ladies. Indeed, before mar riage, they are rarely seen by any male, except of their own family ; and even the lover rarely sees his mistress till she become his bride. But afterwards the ladies enjoy the privilege of being introduced to people of their own nation, and to travellers. When, an the interior apartments, a young woman divests herself of her outer robes ; and, in the summer sea son, may sometimes be surprised reclined on a rich carpet or sofa, with her feet bare, and her whole form rather shaded than concealed by trousers of gauze, and a thin muslin cymarr.
The women can seldom read or write, but are all of them able to embroider very tastefully; and they can generally play on the Greek lute or rebeck. Their dancing they learn without a master from their companions ; and their favourite national dance, the Romaika, is thought to bear a striking resemblance to the ancient Cretan dance, invented in the time of Theseus. Most of them are acquainted with a great number of songs or recitatives, accompanied with tales, which are combined and taken up by different individuals in succession for hours together. The Greek women evince a great quickness of under standing, and much aptitude for the acquisition of languages and other branches of education, when an opportunity offers. But their early marriages, for they are sometimes married at thirteen or fourteen, are prejudicial to their mental improvement. They are, however, assiduous housewives, and tender mothers, and, notwithstanding the scandalous imputations of some travellers, generally chaste. The state of bond age and seclusion in which they are kept naturally enfeebles their characters, and they are excessively credulous, weak, and superstitions, slaves to a thou-. sand vain apprehensions, believing in sorcery and witchcraft ; and receiving implicitly the dogmas and fables of their church. They are much guided by ominous dreams and celestial revelations ; and at births, marriages, and other memorable domestic events, they have recourse to many spells and super stitious rites, to guard against fairies, or wicked spirits.
The evil eye is particularly dreaded ; and the herb garlic is in high repute as a charm against this and other imaginary misfortunes. At funerals, women, hired for the purpose, accompany the bier, howling in a manner rather ludicrous than mournful, pro claiming the virtues of the deceased, and calling aloud to the corpse, " Why did you die You bad money, you had friends, you had a fair wife and children,—Why did you die r On the ninth day after the funeral, the nearest relation gives a feast with music, dancing, and every other sort of merri ment. Many of the rites and ceremonies now in use, and not a few of the observances connected with re ligion, have evidently been transmitted unaltered from Pagan antiquity. (Hothouse, Let. xxxi.) The Greeks affect a great deal of parade in their style of living. Those who are in office are address ed by pompous titles, keep great numbers of servants, dignified with the names of secretaries, physicians, couriers, &c. and have large houses, which are in ge neral shabbily furnished, and very dirty. Both Greeks and Turks contrive to support a respectable appear ance with very slender means. The Greeks, like the Turks also, are all smokers, and addicted to the use of the hot bath. The men generally bathe once a week, the women at least once a month. Their diet, when not restricted by their fasts, consists, among the poorer classes, of bread made of barley, wheat, or Indian corn, pilau, or boiled rice mixed with but ter, eggs, sheep's milk curdled, cheese made of sheep or goats' milk, dried fish, olives, gourds, me lons, and various other vegetables. On holidays, lamb, mutton, kids' flesh, or fowls, are served up. The rich have a greater variety in their dishes and cookery. The mutton, which is the kind of animal food most in use, is seldom good, and is generally roasted or stewed, rarely boiled. Pastry is common, but is very indigestible, being sweetened with honey and not well baked. Boutaraga, caviar, and maca roni, are generally met with on the table, and a dish of snails is not uncommon. The bread is coarse and . anderbaked. Salted olives are a standing dish, and gourds and melons in their season. Great quan tities of vegetables are consumed, such as cabbages, cauliflower, spinach, artichokes, &c. which are ge nerally prepared with oil or batter, and seasoned with pepper, mint, marjoram. Oranges, pears, olives, citrons, medlars, pomegranates, are served up as a dessert. During dinner the Greeks drink wine and a spirit made from barley, resembling whisky ; but they rarely indulge to excess. Coe• is much in use, but is taken rather as a refreshment than as a part of diet. In general, says Dr Holland, the Greeks have an appearance of comfort in their dwellings, clothing, and in the various habits of tiff, not Touch inferior to that of other nations in the south of Europe.* Travellereseem now to be nearly agreed as to the intellectual and moral qualities of the Greeks. It is allowed that they have much acuteness of under standing, polished` and agreeable manners, a spright ly wit, and great natural eloquence; but, on the other hand, their apologists cannot deny that, though strict in their fhsts, they are lax in their morals ; that their vanity forms a lamentable contrast with their hum bled condition ; and that they have more than an• or dinary share of duplicity, meanness, and. bigotry.