ETHNOLOGY HEDLEY. 243 



It is variegated by the intercalation of a brown coconut leaf 

 flounce between two of white pandanus leaf, and is also adorned 

 by four series of three coloured pandanus ribbons and decorated 

 by the black feathers of the Frigate bird. 



Plain dresses from the coconut leaf and from pandanus are also 

 represented in the collection. 



The only Ellice female seen by the American Exploring Expedi- 

 tion was a Nukufetau woman, who " wore a cincture around her 

 waist, and a mat over her bosom. The cincture was made of 

 pandanus leaves ; this was fastened to a cord as a thick fringe, 

 two feet in length, and extended to her knees." 



When a dress has been laid aside for a while it is fumigated as 

 described (ante p. 102) to rid it of noxious insects. 



The grass rain-cloak of Japan has a general resemblance to the 

 Polynesian titi. The Micronesian loom appeared unknown on 

 Funafuti. 



SANDALS. 



A common article of apparel, widespread through the Pacific 

 and still in daily use, is the sandal, on which scanty attention has 

 been bestowed by Ethnologists. 



Under the title of " Sandal used when fishing on a reef," Edge- 

 Partington illustrates a type slightly differing from that we are 

 approaching.* His statement is confirmed by a veteran missionary, 

 my friend the Rev. George Brown, LL.D., who tells me that the 

 sandal is thus worn in Samoa. 



The Rev. W. W. Gill writes of Mangaiia : " At the top, the 

 ' ungakoa/f is protected against attack by a dense shield, whilst 

 the circular edge of the cavity is as keen as the edge of a razor. 

 This animal grows with the bed of coral, the long cavity becoming 

 increasingly large. Young ' ungakoa,' like young oysters, are 

 easily detached from the coral by means of a hammer. Children 

 eat them raw, not forgetting a supply of cooked taro out of their 

 tiny baskets. Hence the necessity of using sandals for the pro- 

 tection of the feet ; woe betides the luckless wight who should 

 tread with his entire weight upon one of these ' cobbler's awls.' 

 Round pieces of flesh are in this way scooped out of the foot."J 



Another reference to this article occurs in a native address 

 given by Gill : " I now carefully turn my sandals, so that both 

 sides may be equally worn, pick up my basket and fishing tackle, 

 and go to the outer edge of the reef to angle." From Tahiti, the 

 sandal is described by Ellis. || 



* Loc. cit., i., pi. Ixxvii., fig. 7, from Samoa; and pi. clxxvii., fig. 5, 

 from Mortlock. 



t Probably Vermetus maximus, Sowerby. 

 j Gill Savage Life in Polynesia, 1880, p. 114. 

 Gill Life in the Southern Isles, 1876, p. 145. 

 || Ellis Polynesian Researches, i., 1832, p. 143. 



