Armenia and its sorrows

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CHAPTER III.
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR LANGUAGE.
rpHE Armenians are scientifically described as belong-
X iiig to the Ininlinr"grouj) of the Indo-TIurojjean
ianiil . They are, as a rule, ofTrne pliysKJue, being
above middle stature, of darkish brown or yellow
complexion, with black bushy hair, large nose, and
wide rather than high forehead. Their expression is
often slightly Jewish. The women are of graceful,
erect carriage, with regular features and line dark
eyes.
The women cover their faces in the streets, and
wear a long cloak similar to that of the Turkish
women. The rest of their dress consists of loose,
baggy trousers drawn in at the ankle, a coloured
shawl fastened round the waist in three or four close
folds, a linen shirt, and a short loose jacket. The
head is swathed in a rag, and the hair is worn hanging
down the back in five or six plaits. As for shoes,
they seldom wear them.
The men wear similar loose, baggy cloth trousers
tied at the ankle, a tight cotton waistcoat, over which
is a coloured sack-like robe of cotton reaching below
tlie knee and split up to the waist on cither side.
On their heads many of them wear the customary fez,
with a dark cotton handkerchief tied round it ; while
on their feet are white woollen stockings and stout
shoes.
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