UNMARRIED FEMALE OF OTTOCHACZ.
The annexed plate represents an unmarried female of Ottochacz. She wears a long open jacket without sleeves, neatly embroidered on the edges, and her hair, carefully plaited in tresses, is covered with a cap of red cloth. The apron universally exhibits a variety of gay colours. Married women are distinguished from virgins by wearing one of these aprons behind as well as before, and a large cloth resembling a mantle over the head and shoulders.
In Upper Croatia, in the county of Warasdin, for example, the dress of the women considerably resembles the above, but is more elegant. On the head is placed a large square of white linen, forming a roll in front, one fold falling over the back and two lying on the shoulders. The margins are adorned with borders of coarse lace two or three inches deep. The vest is of woollen cloth, fitted to the body, without sleeves, and descending below the knees, where it is trimmed with a few coloured stripes, generally red and bordered by fringe or lace. The white shift-sleeves hang large and loose, and are likewise ornamented with coarse lace. The vest is of two kinds, either opening on the sides or before, so as to display the laced front of a bodice held together by clasps, formed of bunches of coloured glass beads. Below the vest about two inches of a white petticoat appear, and below this another petticoat neatly plaited; and beneath all, boots either of black or yellow leather. They likewise wear coarse linen shawls folded round their shoulders and arms.
BANAL FRONTIER.
The districts of the two Banal regiments are situated on the decline of the mountains into the plain. They present a great diversity of ground and scenery. Considerable forests, beautiful valleys, and extensive pastures succeed each other; and notwithstanding the change of country, the character of the inhabitants remains the same.
The indigence and want of activity prevailing among the people of these districts has been ascribed, and not unjustly, to the excessive magnitude of the houses. The village of Boroevich was formerly at least inhabited almost exclusively by the family after which it was named, and there were houses which contained from fifty to one hundred inmates. Such houses furnished many men for the service, but at the same time they were nurseries of discontent and crimes.
Before the division of families was authorized by law, the father of each with his immediate offspring remained in the original habitation. On the marriage of any of his descendants, the new couple built themselves a tenement contiguous and a chamber without a window. Here they slept and deposited what belonged to them exclusively. The father still retained and managed the general property. In his house were the common fire and table for the whole family, no individual being allowed to cook for himself. This separation, however, promoted neither peace nor prosperity: the law therefore interfered and fixed the principles for the partition of too large family-communities. Time will soon show how much the industry and morality of these people have been improved by this measure, without any prejudice to the service.
UNMARRIED FEMALE OF GLINA.
In the annexed representation of a young female of Glina, we again observe the red cap, but of a different form from that shown in the last engraving. In this instance it merely covers the crown of the head, the hair of which is tressed on each side and turned up behind. The tresses are frequently adorned with shells, metal rings, and other trinkets, and the costume in general resembles in cut and fashion that of the upper frontiers.