52 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap. over tf ie forehead of a reddish-ash gray. The beards 

 ^v^ of such as had any were black ; but many had none, 

 1825. or only a few hairs on the chin. None of the men 

 had whiskers, which seemed to be rather a subject 

 of regret with them, and they appeared envious of 

 such of our party as had them, who were obliged to 

 submit to the ordeal of having them stroked and 

 twisted about for the admiration and amusement of 

 their new acquaintances. Both sexes still retain the 

 hideous practice of perforating the lobes of the ears, 

 though the custom is not so general with the men 

 as formerly. The aperture, when distended, which 

 is done by a leaf rolled up and forced through it, is 

 about an inch and a quarter in diameter. The 

 lobe, deprived of its ear-ring, hangs dangling against 

 the neck, and has a very disagreeable appearance, 

 particularly when wet. It is sometimes so long as 

 to be greatly in the way ; to obviate which, they pass 

 the lobe over the upper part of the ear, or more rarely, 

 fasten one lobe to the other, at the back of the head. 

 The lips, when closed, form nearly a line, showing 

 very little of the fleshy part, and giving a character 

 of resolution to the countenance. The nose is aqui- 

 line and well-proportioned ; the eyes small and dark 

 brown or black ; the chin small and rather prominent ; 

 and the tongue disproportionably large, and, on its 

 upper surface, of a diseased white appearance. 



Tattooing or puncturing the skin is here practised 

 to a greater extent than formerly, especially by the 

 females, who have stained their skin in imitation of 

 blue breeches ; copied, no doubt, from some of their 

 visiters, who frequently tuck up their trowsers to 

 the knee in passing through the water. The decep- 

 tion, which, at a short distance, completely deceives 



