Ethnogmphy of Micronesia. 



15 



1. Body-painting.— In the East Caroline Islands, particularly 

 in Truk, the natives have a cnstom of painting the face and body 

 with a certain pigment. This is common to both sexes from 

 thirteen or fourteen years of age to about fifty. The pigment is 

 caUed taik. It is of an orange colour and is made from the root 

 of the turmeric {Curcuma longa), the native name of which 

 is afan. Tlie natives use this pigment as it is or after diluting 

 it in coconut- oil. 



Pig. l._Faciiil painting, Truk 



It appears at first sight as if there were no regular patterns 

 in painting the face ; but closer inspection shows that seven different 

 ways can be distinguished, though, there are apparently no differences 

 with regard to sex or age. This face-painting is shown in Fig. 1. 



Not only the face but also other parts of the body are painted. 

 In this, however, there seems to be no regular method, colouring 

 matter being applied to different parts of the body, with the ex- 

 ception of the waist. The islanders do this usually on festal occa- 



