Civilisation : Its Cause and Cure 



it seemed to me they were extremely intelligent. They 

 grasped readily the points of any enquiry on which I entered, 

 and often showed a marked appreciation of complicated 

 questions. ... I can only record my impression, after 

 several months' intercourse with the Todas, that they were 

 just as intelligent as one would have found any average 

 body of educated Europeans. . . . The characteristic note 

 in their demeanour is their absolute belief in their own 

 superiority over the surrounding races. They are grave 

 and dignified, and yet thoroughly cheerful and well-disposed 

 towards all." (pp. 18-23.) 



Nudity 



THE PELEW ISLANDS : from J. G. Wood (vol. America^ 

 p. 447). See Captain H. Wilson, who was wrecked 

 there in 1783. 



" The inhabitants are of a dark copper colour, well- 

 made, tall, and remarkable for their stately gait. They 

 employ the tattoo in rather a curious manner, pricking the 

 patterns thickly on their legs from the ankles to a few 

 inches above the knees, so that they look as if their legs 

 were darker in colour than the rest of their bodies. They 

 are cleanly in their habits, bathing frequently and rubbing 

 themselves with coco-nut oil, so as to give a soft and glossy 

 appearance to the skin. . . . The men wear no clothing, 

 not even the king himself having the least vestige of rai- 

 ment, the tattoo being supposed to answer the purposes of 

 dress. ... In spite, however, of the absence of dress, the 

 deportment of the sexes towards each other is perfectly 

 modest. For example, the men and women will not 

 bathe at the same spot, nor even go near a bathing place 

 of the opposite sex unless it be deserted." 



288 



