Volume 2

268 Life of Jesus Christ
the globes were revolved, the whole lake appeared to be
passing overhead. This greatly diverted the beholders.
The fruits, and especially the grapes, were truly magnificent.
I saw some persons very respectfully and courteously
bringing some of the finest to Jesus.
The dwellings of the women were on the opposite side
of the valley; but their baths were on this side, more
toward the east and out of sight of those of the men. On
the banks of the stream that flowed into the lake, I saw
little boys in short, white woollen tunics with willow
switches of various colors in their hands, driving flocks
of different kinds of aquatic birds. The water from the
stream and lake was conducted up to the inns on the
height and also to the baths. It was received in channels
from which it was raised to higher reservoirs, and from
them to others, and so on. I saw the women also playing
at different games on the green. They were very modestly
clothed in fine, white woollen wrappers that fell around
them in numerous folds and were girded twice, over the
breast and again at the waist. The wide sleeves could be
raised or lowered by means of buckles. Around the wrists
they had large, stiff frills with many folds, like the tail of
a peacock. Their headdress consisted of a cap of circular
puffs graduated lower and narrower, wound with silk or
small feathers of natural whiteness. It looked like a
snail's shell made of feathers. It was tied behind and a
long point made of tassels hung down the back. They
wore no veil, but over the face were two sections of
finely plaited, white, transparent stuff like half fans,
which reached to below the nose, and had holes for the
eyes. They could lower them in part if they wished to
guard against the sun, or throw them entirely back.
Before men they were lowered.
I saw the women amusing themselves lustily at the
following game. Each had a girdle ending in a ring, or a
loop, around her waist. They formed a circle, each hold­