116 



Art. Yll. — A, Matsnmura: 



while the other end is passed through between the thighs and 

 hangs in front (PL XX, fig. 2). The banana cloth mentioned above 

 is some 1*35 m. long and 34 cm. broad, and has on both sides 

 or ends longitudinal black stripes or other patterns woven with 

 hibiscus fibres. As for the waist-cloth, the islanders now generally 

 wear a piece of imported cotton or woollen cloth, which is fast 

 superseding the banana cloth. 



The women of Palau and Yap wear petticoats, but the ma- 

 terials used and the make are different according to the two 

 islands. In Palau, the petticoat for both young and old women 

 consists of two pieces, which reach to the knees and the upper 

 parts of which are tied round the waist below the navel, by means 

 of a belt with two cords, with 

 coconut or tortoise-shell rings 

 strung on tliem, or by means 

 of cotton strings (PI. XXVI and 

 Fig. 42). Captain Wilson tells 

 that he was given a belt with 

 a string of many beads obtained 

 from a coarse sort of cornelian. ^ 

 These belts, he says, are worn 

 by women of good position ; but 

 whether this is still the case or 

 not, we had no opportunity of 

 ascertaining — we saw no women 

 wearing such strings. A bag 

 plaited of pandanus leaves or coco -tree leaves is inserted under the 

 front piece of the petticoat. It is 20 cm. wide, 23 cm. deep, and 

 is used for carrying tobacco and other things (Fig. 43). The bag 



Fig. 42. — Girdle willi strings of coconut 

 rings, worn by ■women, ralaii. 



1 G. Keate, "The rele^y Islands," p. 318; PI. VI, fig. 1. 



