T H E P A. C I F I C O C E A N. 3H9 



of the arm ; rin^s of tortoife-fliell on the finders ; and a '777' 

 number of- thefe, joined together, as bracelets on the 

 wrifts. 



The lobes of the ears (though, mod frequently, only 

 one) are perforated with two holes, in which they wear 

 cylindrical bits of ivory, about three inches long, intro- 

 duced at one hole, and brought out of the other ; or bits 

 of reed of the fame fize, filled with a yellow pigment. This 

 feeras to be a fine powder of turmeric, with which the wo- 

 men rub themfelves all over, in the fame manner as our 

 ladies ufe their dry rouge upon the cheeks. 



Nothing appears to give them greater pleafure thaji per- 

 fonal cleanlinefs; to produce which, they frequently bathe 

 in the ponds, which feem to ferve no other purpofe *. 

 Though the water in mod of them llinks intolerably, they 

 prefer them to the fea ; and they are fo fenfible that fak 

 water hurts their fkin, that, when neceflity obliges them 

 to bathe in the fea, they commonly have fome cocoa-nut 

 Ihells, filled with frelh v/ater, poured over them, to wafli 

 it off. They are immoderately fond of cocoa-nut oil for 

 the fame reafon; a great quantity of which they not only 

 pour upon their head and Ihoulders, but rub the body all 

 over, brifkly, with a fmaller quantity. And none but thofe 

 who have feen this pra(5lice, can eafily conceive how the. 

 appearance of the fkin is improved by it. This oil, how- 

 ever, is not to be procured by every one; and the inferior' 

 fort of people, doubtlefs, appear iefs fmooth for want of it. 



* So at the Caroline Iflands. " lis font accoutemes a fe baigner trois fois, le 

 *' jour, le matin, a midi, & fur le foir." 



Lettres Edlfiantes t). Curieufes, Tom, xv. p. 314,. 



CHAP.. 



