These
latter looked with evident interest on the sports of the
younger warriors, who, throwing down their hurdles, either
vied with each other in the short but incredibly swift
foot-race, or indulged themselves in wrestling and leaping;
while their companions, abandoned to the full security
they felt to be attached to the white flag waving on the
fort, lay at their lazy length upon the sward, ostensibly
following the movements of the several competitors in
these sports, but in reality with heart and eye directed
solely to the fortification that lay beyond. Each of
these females, in addition to the machecoti, or petticoat,
which in one solid square of broad-cloth was tightly
wrapped around the loins, also carried a blanket loosely
thrown around the person, but closely confined over the
shoulders in front, and reaching below the knee. There
was an air of constraint in their movements, which accorded
ill with the occasion of festivity for which they were
assembled; and it was remarkable, whether it arose from
deference to those to whom they were slaves, as well as
wives and daughters, or from whatever other cause it
might be, none of them ventured to recline themselves
upon the sward in imitation of the warriors.
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