File:Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China seas and Japan (1857) (14782278844).jpg

Identifier: narrativeofexped05perr (find matches)
Title: Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China seas and Japan
Year: 1857 (1850s)
Authors: Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858 Hawks, Francis L. (Francis Lister), 1798-1866
Subjects: United States Naval Expedition to Japan (1852-1854)
Publisher: New York, D. Appleton and company (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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compensation, however, is occasionally lost to the prospec-tive bridegroom, for it is not uncommon for some of the young ladies to in-augurate the habit of blacking the teeth upon the popping of the question. The effects of this disgusting habit are more apparent from another prac-tice which prevails with the Japanese, as with our would-be civilized dames,that of painting the lips with rouge. The ruddy glow of the mouth brings outin greater contrast the blackness of the gums and teeth. The rouge of theJapanese toilet, called hing, is made of the carthamus tinctorius, and isprepared in cups of porcelain. When a slight coat is applied, it gives alively red color, but when it is put on thick, a deep violet hue, which is themost prized, is the result. * The worthy mayor had some refreshments prepared for his guests, consist-ing of tea, cakes, confectionary, and the never absent saki. With the latterwas served a kind of hot waffle, made apparently of rice flour. The civic dig- * Thunbero-.
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JAPANESE WOMEN. VISIT TO THE MAZOK. 461 nitary himself was very active in dispensing those offerings, and he was ablyseconded by his wife and sister, who always remained on their knees in pre-sence of the strangers. This awkward position of the women did not seemto interfere with their activity, for they kept running about very brisklywith the silver saki kettle, the services of which, in consequence of thesmallness of the cups, were in constant requisition. The two ladies were un-ceasingly courteous, and kept bowing their heads, like a bobbing toy man-darin. The smiles with which they perseveringly greeted the guests mighthave been better dispensed with, as every movement of their lips exposedtheir horrid black teeth and decayed gums. The mayoress was uncom-monly polite, and was good natured enough to bring in her baby, which hereuests felt bound to make the most of, though its dirty face and general un-tidy appearance made it quite a painful effort to bestow the necessary ca-resses.

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