Page:Mexico as it was and as it is.djvu/86

click on image to enlarge. The reboso is a long woven scarf, often of fine material, worn over the head and shoulders by Spanish and Mexican women.

with and without the reboso.

rainbow, and a painted fan, are indispensable portions of a complete dress. The fan is none of your new-fangled inventions of feather and finery, but the old-fashioned reed and paper instruments used by our grandmothers. The opening and shutting—the waving and folding of these is an especial language. They touch them to their lips—flirt them wide open—close them—let their bright eyes peep over the rim—display their jewelled hands and witching eyes, and, in fact, carry on a warfare of graceful coquetry from behind these pasteboard fortresses, that has forced ere now, many a stout heart to cry for quarter!