Ethnography of Micronesia. 31 



geometrical patterns cut on the liandle (Fig. 0, (j and h). What- 

 ever the structure may be, such ornaments as sliells or beads are 

 sometimes fixed to the combs or worsted of various colours is 

 twisted round for decoration. To make them still prettier, long 

 tail featliers of birds are attached to the handle. It is usual, 

 however, that such combs are provided with a more or less large 

 or long handle. These are used in dances or in feasts (PI. 

 XXXIV, figs. 5 and 6). 



The use of the comb in the South Sea Islands is quite ex- 

 tensive. It is met with in New Guinea, Melanesia, part of Poly- 

 nesia, the Philippines, etc. In New Guinea, there are two varieties 

 of combs as in the Caroline Islands. One consists of a single 

 piece, while the other is made up of several pieces tied together.^ 

 The first is usually made of bamboo, so it is somewhat dififerent 

 fi-om the kind used in Truk. Again, the second is not so well 

 made as the one with ornamental lashings of fibre which we found 

 in Yap, nor is there in New Guinea any kind that is held fast 

 by means of nails. And of the combs used in Yap, the one with 

 its handle bound up with fibre closely resembles the variety found 

 in the Fiji Islands.^ But the latter has only about ten teeth ; the 

 number of teeth is, therefore, much less than that of the kind 

 met with in Yap. See Part II, The West Caroline Islands. 



The native combs above described are not worn by women, 

 the use of these ornaments being limited to men above age. 

 There is no particular part of the head where the comb should 

 be worn, this being apparently left to the fancy of individuals. 

 In other South Sea Islands, the wearers of combs are mostly 



1 Ü. A. J. Van der Sande, "Nova Guinea, III. Ethnog. and Anthr," pp. 63, 67. 

 ■i F. Winter. •• Die Kämme aller Zeiten von der Fteinzeit bis znr Gegenwart," Leipzig, 19C6, 

 Taf. 67, Fig 236. 



