SHOES.
Markub, Hick, . ARAB. Baschmaki, . . . Rus. Schcenen,. . . . Dur. Zapatos, . . . SP.
&puller, . . . . FR. Cherupu, Chapatu, TAN. Schuhe, . . . . GER. Cheppu, . . . . TEL. Jora, Juti, GILT., HIND. Kundura, . . . TURK. Scarpe, . . . IT. Pabuch Kasut, Sapatu, . MALAY.
The sandal was doubtless the foot-clothing of all ancient times, and the ffinging of one on a territory was a symbol of taking possession. The Psalmist says, Upon the land of Edom do I cast my shoe.' In Ireland, after the chief took the white rod, the sub-chieftain placed sandals on his chiefs feet, retained one as an honourable perquisite, and threw the other over his chief's head as an augury of good luck. The sandal is still worn by the Hindu and Muhammadan nations in the south of Asia. Shoes, as articles of covering for the feet, are generally made of leather, but cloth of kinds is also used, and in the Panjab Himalaya, straw and grass. The shoes, or rather slippers, worn by the natives of Southern India are generally of red leather if for men. The patterns are called Appa-shahee, Chandduru, Chappal, and Nok dar. The rich natives use a buff-coloured cloth. The slippers of females are ornamented with spangles. Their price is from four annas to a rupee. Thunberg says that in his time the shoes of Japan were always the shabbiest part of the dress of the Japanese, and being of straw they lasted but a little time. But they were n3ade in
immense numbers, and cost but a trifle. Digni taries sometimes wore slippers made of fine rattan slips neatly plaited. In Exodus iii. 5, the Lord commanded Moses, saying, Put off thy shoes from off thy feet ; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.' The natives of British India never go into their own houses, nor iuto the houses of others, with their shoes on, but always leave them at the door. It is a great affront not to attend to this mark of respect in visiting ; and to enter a temple, mosque, or kyoung without pulling off the shoes would be an unpardonable offence. A shoe bearer is a very humble office ; and in Matthew iii. 11, John says of Christ, He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.' Luke xv. 22 says, And put shoes on his feet.' In Bengal, shoes of a superior quality make one of the distinguishing parts of a person's dress. Some of these shoes cost as much as a hundred rupees a pair, but are put off the feet before entering a room.—Faulkner • Herklots ; American Expedition to Japan, p. 65 ; Thunberg.