118 PHYSICAL CHARACTERS. 



The hue of the hair in adults varies usually in accordance with 

 the changes in the coloui* of the skin. Amono'st the St. Christoval 

 natives it agrees with the numbers 35 and 42 of the colour-types of 

 M. Broca ; whilst amongst the darker-hued natives of the islands of 

 Bougainville Straits the hair is of a deeper hue, corresponding with 

 the colour-types 34 and 49. The average thickness of eleven 

 samples of hair from the former locality is from o^^y to ^1-^^ of an 

 inch ; whilst in the latter locality, where the hair is of a darker 

 hue, the hairs are individually coarser, ten samples giving an aver- 

 age thickness of ^^ to ^^ of an inch. The diameter of the spiral, 

 when measurable, varies between 5 and 10 millimetres,^ its usual 

 range throughout the group ; but on account of the practice of comb- 

 ing, it is often difficult to measure it with any degree of accuracy. 

 These measurements, however, are double the size of the curl (2 to 

 4 mm.) which Miklouho-Maclay ^ has determined to be characteristic 

 of the Papuan. The difference may be due to the greater inter- 

 mingling of the eastern Polynesian element amongst the Solomon 

 Islanders. 



The natives of the eastern islands of this group frequently stain 

 their hair a light-brown hue by the use of lime, a practice which 

 frees the hair of vermin. The passing visitor might easily carry 

 away with him the impression that such light-brown hair was a 

 permanent character; but on examining adults, he would usually 

 find that the hair is much darker at the roots. The natives (women 

 and boys) of the islands of Bougainville Straits, and according to 

 Labillardiere,^ those of the adjacent island of Bouka, stain the 

 hair by the use of a red ochreous earth, the colour of which, 

 blended with the deep colour of the hair, produces a striking 

 magenta hue. 



With regard to the amount of hair on the face, limbs, and trunk, 

 great diversity is observed even amongst natives of the same 

 village. Epilation is commonly employed, a bivalve shell being 

 used as a pair of pincers ; but there can be no doubt that the 

 development of the hair varies quite independently of such a custom. 

 Out of ten men taken promi.scuou.sly from one of the villages on 

 tlie north coa.st of St. Christoval, perhaps, five would have smooth 



1 In young boys in different pcirts of the group, the hair sometimes grow.s in larger flat 

 spirals having a diameter of from 12 to 1.5 millimetres. 



2 "Nature." Dec. 21st, 1882. 



* Labillardicrc's " Voyage in search of La Perouse," vol. i. p. 240. London 1800. 



