EthnogTfiphy of Micronesia HO- 



just as those observed among civilized peoples. The Mekeo tribe 

 in British New Gninea is a case in point.^ 



4. Rain Caps.— The natives of Palau use a rain-cap which is 

 made of two pieces of the bark of betel-nut palms (?) stitched to- 

 gether on two edo^es. It is 08 cm. long and 33 cm. broad. It is 

 only large enough to cover the head and shoulders. This rain-cap 

 is also used as a sort of basket, more by women than by men 

 (PI. XXX, fig. 1). 



We are told that this kind of rain- cap is also used by the 

 islanders of Yap. A similar rain- cap is met with in Matty Island 

 off the northern coast of German New Gainea."^ Hero the natives, 

 it is said, employ it as shelter from the sun as well as from rain. 

 Besides, a recent exploration in the interior of Dutch New Guinea 

 shows that a similar custom is also found among the natives of 



Pësëgëm.^ 



5. Bracelets.— In the West Caroline group, the custom of 

 wearing bracelets still prevails extensively among both sexes. There 

 are roughly three . kinds of bracelets, that is : one made of sheU, 

 another of coconut shell, and the third of tortoise-shell. In Palau, 

 shell bracelets are chiefly worn, though tortoise-shell ones are also 



1 Amorg the Mekeo people of British New Guinea, there are four forms of petticoats, 

 namely: (1) A plain uncoloured petticoat, made ont of ^^■üd grass, and worn for working^ m 

 the gardens, fishing, etc. (2) A petticoat made out of either sago leaves or the fibre c cenam 

 forms of banana, or a broad-leaved plant. This is used in ordinary daily life; its material i.j 

 usually stained black. (3) An ornamental petticoat, made out of sago leaves, -'^ ^^^---^ ^^^ 

 and veUow in perpendicular bands. This petticoat, which is longer and more thickly made 

 than" the others, is worn over the second at dances. (4) A petticoat worn as mourning. This 

 garment, especially the form worn by a widow, is very short, and, instead o P««^-^ /^ ^^^ 

 the waist, it only hangs in front and behind, leaving the hips and thighs bare - j«th su^. 

 It is stained black. See R. W. Williamson, "Some unrecorded customs of the Mekeo Peopl. 

 of British New Guinea." -Tour. Anthr. Inst, XLIII, 19J3, p. 2G8. ^ ^ f ^ , 



2 A. B. Meyer and E. Parkinson, "Album von Fapua-Typen 11,' p. '^■'■^Jf -^^ 



3 .T. W. van Nouhuys, "Der Bergstamm Pësëgëm im Innern von Niederland,sch-Neu- 

 Guinea," Nova Guir>ea-.1»07 et 190i), Vol. VII. Ethnographie. l'JrJ, pp. lt. 27; Fig. 9 and iat. 

 I, fig. 13. 



