T H E P A C I F I C O C E A N. 155 



by knotting; and their work is often ornamented with ^^777- '^ 



r 1 n • i 1 ■ , , February. 



pieces or dog-lkin, or chequered at the corners. They \— v— -# 

 bring two corners of this garment over the flioulders, and 

 faften it on the breafl. with the other part, which covers the 

 body ; and about the belly, it is again tied with a girdle 

 made of mat. Sometimes they cover it with large feathers 

 of birds (whch feem to be wrought into the piece of cloth 

 when it is made), or with dog-fl^in ; and that alone we 

 have feen v/orn as a covering. Over this garment many of 

 them wear mats, which reach from the flioulders to near 

 the heels. But the moft common outer-covering is a quan- 

 tify of the above fedgy plant, badly drefTed, which they 

 faften on a ftring to a confiderable length, and, throwing it 

 about the flioulders, let it fall down on all fides, as far as 

 the middle of the thighs. When they fit down with this upon 

 them, either in their boats, or upon the fiiore, it would be 

 difficult to diftinguifh them from large grey ftoncs, if their 

 black heads, projecting beyond their coverings, did not en- 

 gage one to a flridler examination. 



By way of ornament, they fix in their heads feathers, or 

 combs of bone, or wood, adorned with pearl fliell, or the 

 thin inner flcin of fome leaf. And in the ears, both of 

 men and women, which are pierced, or rather flit, are 

 hung fmall pieces of jafper, bits of cloth, or beads when 

 they can get them. A few alfo have the feptum of the riofe 

 bored in its lower part; but no ornament was worn there that 

 we faw ; though one man pafiTed a twig through it, to lliew 

 us that it was fometimes ufed for that purpofe. They wear 

 long beards, but are fond of having them Ihaved. 



Some are punftured or flained in the face with curious 

 fpiral a'nd other figures, of a black or deep blue colour; 



X 2 but 



