. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 . on their ordinaryofficial visits, however, they wore a sort of undressor riding costume. This differs from full dress inthe cut of the trousers, which admit of the legs beingwidely separated, an impossible achievement in theirbest clothes. They also, in riding, dispense with thelight gauze sort of habit-shirt, which is thrown overthe rest of the costume, and, projecting at the shoulderlike wings, falls in long bands in front. In formalsalutations, it is the correct thing to stoop until theends of these
. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 . on their ordinaryofficial visits, however, they wore a sort of undressor riding costume. This differs from full dress inthe cut of the trousers, which admit of the legs beingwidely separated, an impossible achievement in theirbest clothes. They also, in riding, dispense with thelight gauze sort of habit-shirt, which is thrown overthe rest of the costume, and, projecting at the shoulderlike wings, falls in long bands in front. In formalsalutations, it is the correct thing to stoop until theends of these bands touch the ground. The Japanese seldom wear anything on their heads,except when ridiug. The head is shaved on thecrown, and the side andback hair brought for-ward in a roll about thethickness of a small sau-sage to the top of theforehead; here it is firm-ly gummed down with aspecies of bandoline, inthe manufacture of whichthe Japanese are very pro-ficient. Wigs are com- ^ Japanese Wi^ mon in the shops, but are only worn as a part of amasquerade dress. Not a particle of hair is ever. 158 OFFICIAL COSTUME. allowed to appear upon their faces. The wintercostume consists in robes cut like dressing-gowns,padded throughout with silk wadding. These un-wieldy articles of attire are also used upon state occa-sions, and are a standing item in the list of Imperialpresents to a foreign mission. But the most singularportion of their apparel are the trousers which theywear at their audiences with the Tycoon ; they seemto be cut upon a principle precisely the opposite tothat which regulates our Court-dress. We considerthat when we have brought our nether garmentsdown to the knee, we have not only satisfied decency,but reached the highest pitch of refinement andelegance. The great object of the Japanese is tocreate an entire misconception in the mind of thespectator as to the situation of that important joint;he wishes it to be supposed that he shuffles into theroyal presence on his knees;
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