PERFORATION OF LIPS. TATTOOING. DRESS. 241 



tance from the ends, which hang free, leaving the middle part to 

 fall loosely across the "breast. Not unfrequently the ends are long 

 enough to be each fastened back in another loop to the hair behind 

 the ears. 



Fortunately for the appearance of the countenance it is not 

 deformed by the perforations in the lip, but instead it is marked 

 with three tattooed lines from the margin of the lower lip to the 

 under surface of the chin. The middle one of these is rather more 

 than half an inch broad, with a narrower one at a little distance on 

 either side, diverging slightly downwards. The manner in which 

 tattooing is performed is by pinching up the skin in the direction 

 of the line required, and passing through it at short intervals a 

 fine needle, in the eye of which is a small thread of sinew blackened 

 with soot, as in ordinary sewing, except that the thread is pulled 

 through at each stitch. The narrow line on each side is the result 

 of one seam or series of stitches, but the middle one requires three 

 or four such close together. It has been supposed that this opera- 

 tion is performed at a particular period when the girl verges into 

 womanhood, and some of the natives profess that this is the case, 

 but inquiry does not substantiate the supposition. A single line is 

 frequently seen in mere children, and the three in very young 

 girls, whilst a few are not marked until they seem almost full 

 grown women, and have been called wives for a considerable time. 

 The same irregularity exists with regard to the age at which the lip 

 is perforated for labrets in boys, who as soon as they can take a sea] 

 or kill a wolf are entitled to have the operation performed. But, 

 in truth, no rule obtains in either case ; some, led by the force of 

 example, submit to it early, and others delay it from shyness or 

 timidity. A man is met with occasionally without holes for labrets, 

 but a woman without the chin-marks we have never seen. 



The men's dress is simple and convenient, consisting of a frock 

 reaching nearly half-way to the knee, with a hood, and confincl al 

 the waist by a loose belt, having the tail of some animal attached 

 to it behind, and breeches tying below the knee over long boots or 

 mocassins, which also tie at the ankle. These garments are double, 

 the inner being generally made of fawn-skin, and worn with the 

 fur inwards, and the outer of the skin of the half or fall-grown 

 animal with the hair outwards. To make the hood Bet well to the 

 face, a triangular slip of skin is necessary to bo inserted on eaoh 

 side of the neck, with long points extending down the breasl ; and 

 these pieces being usually white, form with the darker skin of the 

 coat a contrast which readily catches tho eye. Around the (ace is 

 a fringe, frequently of wolf or wolverine-skin, on g 1 coats, and the 



