Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1885 — How They Dress in Java. [ARTICLE]

How They Dress in Java.

A lady who has been yisiting in Java writes to the Missouri Republican : “As soon as we got to the house our hostess provided us with ‘sarvengkabaya’ to put on. This is the native dress of the country, and is worn by ladies all through the heat of the day, being light and cool. It consists pf two parts; the ‘sarveng,’ or skirt, is about four yards wide, in one piece, with one seam. It is drawn tightly round tffe waist without a wrinkle, and folded over in front in one or two great folds and tied on by a sash. There are many, kinds of ‘sarvengs,’ almost evetfc, district having some special way of making and ornamenting them, and where a stranger would see no differ*ence a connoissenr at a glance distinguishes between a Batavian, Samarang' or Solo pattern. In some places they are woven, sometimes with gold or silver thread; in others a rich pattern is traced in wax in fine cotton or silk. The process is called ‘battick,’ and these are the finest. Sarveng-making is a great industry among native women, and they are of all prices, from one or tw oguilders to fifty or sixty. ”