" (_Journal of the
Anthropological Institute_, 1895, p. 293.)
In the Gold Coast and surrounding countries complete nudity is
extremely rare, except when circumstances make it desirable; on
occasion clothing is abandoned with unconcern. "I have on several
occasions," says Dr. Freeman, "seen women at Accra walk from the
beach, where they have been bathing, across the road to their
houses, where they would proceed to dry themselves, and resume
their garments; and women may not infrequently be seen bathing in
pools by the wayside, conversing quite unconstrainedly with their
male acquaintances, who are seated on the bank. The mere
unclothed body conveys to their minds no idea of indecency.
Immodesty and indelicacy of manner are practically unknown." He
adds that the excessive zeal of missionaries in urging their
converts to adopt European dress--which they are only too ready
to do--is much to be regretted, since the close-fitting, thin
garments are really less modest than the loose clothes they
replace, besides being much less cleanly. (R.A. Freeman, _Travels
and Life in Ashanti and Jaman_, 1898, p. 379.)
At Loango, says Pechuel-Loesche, "the well-bred negress likes to
cover her bosom, and is sensitive to critical male eyes; if she
meets a European when without her overgarment, she instinctively,
though not without coquetry, takes the attitude of the Medicean
Venus.
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