ment for the ear, it does not mean rings; but perhaps an ornamental composition of gems, pendants, &c. of which we observe many varieties on ancient medals. No. 12. The rings; meaning, I presume, rings for the finger; which being adorned with gems, and precious stones, have always been considered as an ornamental part of dress. This appears from the instance of Pharaoh: who took the ring from off his finger, to put it on that of Joseph. This no doubt was a seal ring, Gen. xli. 42. See also Esth. iii. 10; viii. 2.

No. 13. The nose jewels. I apprehend that it is not absolutely indisputable whether this denotes, in this place, rings worn in the nostril; possibly it may be a jewel worn on the forehead, and hanging down to the nose; my reason is, that the servant of Abraham, Gen. xxiv. 22. says, he put a nezem, the word is singular, upon, or over, y, her nose. We can hardly think, if the nostril of Rebekah was not already perforated, that Eliezer now perforated it: he had surely neither leisure for such an operation, nor conveniencies, and if a ring were already in her nostril, which I doubt, how, or why, add another? whereas, if the jewel was of the nature of that in Nos. 11, 12. Plate I. it might be readily appended, whether in addition or not, to the cap, or the hair, and so hang down over the nose. But observe, nothing is hinted of a gem, or precious stone, in it, which seems to be essential to a forehead jewel. The weight of this ring was only half a shekel of gold; whereas, the weight of the arm rings was twenty times as much; ten shekels. I doubt whether young women of the better ranks of life wore rings in their nostrils. Many translators understand this word as signifying occasionally, rings for the face, i.e. for any part of the face: which is not denying that it means also, elsewhere, a ring for the nostril.

These articles we find, then, are decorative jewels, displayed on various parts of the person: as, 8th, Bracelets, rings for the arms. 9th, Collets, for the neck. 10th, Perfume boxes, hanging from the collets, down the neck, or into the very bosom, of the wearer. 11th, Pendants for the ears. 12th, Rings for the fingers, studded with precious stones. 13th, Jewelry knots of gems, pearls, &c. for the forehead. The similar nature of these articles connects them very strongly; and leads to a belief of their having been properly understood and referred by us.

No. 14. Changeable suits of apparel; mechaletjim. This was the external surtout, or robe, put on, and taken off, occasionally; it was worn by men; for so we read, Zech. iii. 4. "take away the filthy garments from Joshua, the high-priest, and clothe him with new outer garments, mechaictjuth;" this is confirm ed by Judz. xiv. 19. Samson slew men and took their thirty chaliljuth, upper dresses, which he gave to those who had expounded his riddle; and the prophet, in the passage before us, says it was worn by women. The reader will observe some slight changes in these words, though radically the same; no doubt the dress

differed for the sexes, and wearers. We see it to advantage in Plate II.

No. 15. The mantles. The nearest idea of this among ourselves is, I think, the hood to a cloak, when drawn by the wearer over her head, to shelter her head and face; it is properly rendered therefore by our translators mantles; in modern language, cloaks. Lady Montague says, letter 29. "No woman of what rank soever, is permitted to go into the streets without two murlins; one that covers her face all but her eyes, and another that hides the whole dress of her head, and hangs half way down her back." This then was a garment put on and taken off occasionally: and consequently it succeeds the former with propriety.

No. 16. The whimples, cloaks ; methephechut : this is the half veil of f. No. 15, Plate L. [Vide FRAGMENT, No. 159.]

No. 17. The crisping pins, little purses, charithim. The meaning of this word is, a bag; so we read, 2 Kings, v. 23. Naaman bound two talents of silver in two charithim, bags, or, cases made of linen, &c. envelopes proper for their enclosure; now this, I think, is identically the description of a Turkish lady's drawers; which are bags, or cases for the legs; and, as drawers are universally worn in the East, and are indeed indispensable, the prophet could hardly omit the mention of them: this also is the proper place for them in the order he has adopted; as this is the first mentioned garment which is constantly worn as apparel.

No. 18. The glasses, transparent garments: The drawers are worn close to the person, covering the lower parts; next to these is the thin gauze shift, covering the whole of the person; in the upper parts being next to the skin, in the lower parts outside the drawers. This I take, without hesitation, to be the article intended. No. 19. The fine linen, fine linen rests: sidinim. This is certainly the test. In the figures we submit to the reader, Plate II. it is not a linen rest, but of embroidered silk; and that this was an enriched part of dress and worn by men of opulence, we learn from Samson's promise of such to his companions, Judg. xiv. 12, 13. thirty sidinim; not babits of slaves or peasants, but of persons of property. It was worn, then, by both sexes. In confirmation we observe that the girdle is connected with the sedin, Prov. xxxi. 24. "The virtuous woman maketh the sedin and selleth it: and the girdle also she delivereth to the merchants." Since then these are mentioned in connection, it is fair to presume that they were worn together.

No. 20. The hoods, turban, tjeniphut. This word signifies to withe, to wrap around. In this place it means precisely, I apprehend, the sash, or waistband, of linen, silk, &c. rolled around the waist; answering to the girdle; an article which is otherwise omitted in this description; surely contrary to propriety. [See this wrapping girdle in Piate vi. Solomon's Song.] It does not appear in our present figures.

No. 21. The veils, mantles. The radid we have proved elsewhere, [FRAGMENT, No. 145,] to be a long deep veil, covering the whole of the person. This long deep veil, being an entire external envelope, worn as a beautiful part of dress, by brides and married women, and indeed being the only part of dress seen by spectators when a woman is walking abroad, closes this description with propriety. Neither of our figures have this veil on, as it would conceal the other parts of their dress. It may be seen in the Plate to the Fragment, referred to above; or may be conceived of as a sheet of delicate drapery wholly enclosing the wearer.

Thus we see, that these articles also, are connected by their nature; garments to be put on and taken off occasionally, are, 14th, the external robe. 15th, The hood. 16th, The half veil. Garments to be worn continually are, 17th, Drawers. 18th, Shift of gauze. 19th, Embroidered vest. 20th, Sash. A close to the whole, is 21st, the long veil, which effectually conceals the person, and is worn only out of the house, being laid aside when at home.

Let us now observe the order, the accurate order, maintained by the prophet in his description, and let us endeavour to justify the particulars, by a proper division and association of them, and by reference to our Plates.

THE HEAD DRESS.

21. Long veil.

The order of the foregoing articles precludes any very serious doubts on the nature of them, respectively: that we should be able to exhibit the pattern of each, as worn in the days of Isaiah, is not to be expected: it is enough, if we approach so near to an explanation of the particulars, as to show, that this passage of holy Scripture, hitherto relinquished as inexplicable, may be so far at least explained, as to be relieved from the obscurity which has hitherto envel

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will see removed with great satisfaction and pleasure. We have trusted entirely to that evidence offered to the judgment and view of the reader, which arises from an orderly arrangement, and association of the parts of dress, and the representation of them in our Plates: to have entered deeply into verbal disquisition on a subject like the present, might have rather bewildered both writer and reader by an ostentation of learning, than have communicated that information. which it is the object of our researches and diligence to acquire.

A more particular explanation of the subjects collected on the Plates is appropriated to another article.