Manto y saya

I went to a Peruvian restaurant with some friends on Saturday.  Among us was a lady from Peru who was helping us with the dishes.  I enjoyed a sweet juice of red corn, and saw how Peruvian corns are bigger than those in the U.S. and taste like lima beans.  But more importantly I learned about part of the history of Peruvian women, that I had no idea about; that was surprising; and I did not expect it there from all places in the world.

I learned that Peruvian women used to cover themselves, from head to toe, with something called "manto y saya".  It was black, and they would hold it with their hands and only reveal one of their eyes!  Sound familiar? Is that where/how Iranians got the idea for black chadors/veils?  Is there any relationship between the name of their attire and what Iranians refer to as Manto (long over coats women wear)?

For more information read the views of Flora, Tristan, in Lima, Peru in 1838:

http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/lesson19.html

More here (apparently my guess about the origins of chador is valid):

 http://inmemoryoflatapada.blogspot.com/2010/08/theories-of-origin-of-la-saya-y-el.html