Ethnography of Micronesia. 



4:i 



shape, SQch as was sketched by Biichan, as havmg served at the 

 first stage of the art of weaving." 



Thus the art of weaving is hinited to a very few of the South 

 Sea Islands. Even where the art is known it is in most cases in 

 the primitive stage, scarcely capable of prodachig fabrics tit for 

 clothing. In Micronesia, however, various kinds of fabrics are 

 manufactured for clothing and ornaments. Some of them are 

 woven with quite fine fibres, which shows a more or less high 

 development in weaving. Apart from the skill in the art, the 

 Micronesians resemble the Malay peoples in their knowledge of 

 weaving. And this resemblance may possibly point to the ethno- 

 logical relationship between them. 



5. Bracelets.— Tliough bracelets are worn by both sexes, the 

 custom is now falhng into desuetude. It is 

 very rare that ornaments for the wrists are 

 worn, as they are by the West Caroline Is- 

 landers. As regards the material for bracelets, 

 the specimens we collected in Truk are all of 

 tortoise-shell. To make a bracelet of this 

 material, tortoise-shell is bent into the shape 

 of a tube, the ends being made to overlap 

 each otlier, so that the size of the ring may easily be adjusted. 

 The breadth is from 35 to 44 mm. (Fig. 15). Similar varie- 

 ties of bracelets may be met with in Ponapé. 

 The ornaments for both the right and left 

 wrists do not necessarily agree in size and 

 shape. The varieties worn in the West Caro- 

 line Islands are just like the one above describ- ' *_ - 

 ed. We are told that bracelets are also made ^^<3- i6.-sheii ring 



from .a tomb at Panm. 

 of shells and coconut. Nanmatal, Fonape. 



Fig. 15.— Toitoise-shdl 

 bracvlet, Truk. 



