OF LA PEHOU5E. 283 



it up to us, doubtlefs with an intention of extol- 

 ling its good qualities, made great motions with 

 his mouth, at the tame time fwelling out his 

 cheeks prodigioufly, and feemed to wifh to pcr- 

 fuade us that this lime produced a very agreeable 

 fenfation. 



Another chief had a fmall bundle of the leaves 

 of the pepper-tree called piper firiboa, Linn. They 

 probably chew it with the cafhew-nut, for we did 

 not lee in their mouth any of the traces which 

 accompany the maftication of betel. Befides, 

 we remarked thefe articles of luxury only in the 

 hands of the chiefs, to whom they feemed exclu- 

 sively refer ved. 



A few of thefe favages wore bracelets cut out 

 of large fhells, among which I recognifed fomc 

 lea-ears lmooth in the middle and on the margins. 



The greater part had their ears bored, and 

 different fhelta fattened to them ; it is the inferior 

 lobe of the ear, which, after having pierced it, they 

 are in the habit of diflending to prodigioufly^ 

 that it hangs down lower than the fhoukler as 

 may be feen in Plate III. It appears that it is 

 by means of elaftic rings introduced into thefe 

 holes that they produce fo great a diftenlion. 

 The boy of whom I have already fpoken had two 

 of thofe rings in his ears. 



Their hair is curly and of a black colour ; they 



redden it frequently with ochre mixed with oil ; 



i occafionally 



