245 



^roiind, and (jn it rest one or two soniewliat Ioniser saplin/'.s 

 slanting against the wind. Over these are placed bushes in 

 such a fashion as to i'orni a semi-circular, roof-like shelter, which 

 at times is covered with grass or tussocks of spinifex to keep out 

 still better the wind and weather. (See pi. 30.) Aban(loned 

 shelter-places of this kind are frequently met with throughout 

 the country--single ones, or in groups of two oi- three. Owing 

 to the ease and rapidity with which they are constructed it is 

 less troublesome to build a new one than to travel any distance 

 in search of an old one. This accounts for their being met witli 

 so often in a country where rain may sometimes not fall for years, 

 for it is only when cold beating )'ain occurs and the natives 

 cannot keep a tire going that these shelters are used by them. 



To use water for the purpose of wasliing the body seems to be, 

 in their opinion, a gross waste of this \-aluable element — at 

 least, T liave never seen them use it for any other purpose but to 

 drink. They certainly rub themselves at times with grease, but 

 more frequently with ochre all over the front. The ochre is 

 ground on a flat piece of rock with a convenient liandstone, and 

 with tliis the adhering coloring-substance is rubbed on to the body. 

 The greasing no doubt makes the skin supple and comfortable, but 

 the application of ochre and similar substances cannot possibly do 

 so. However, this and otiier pigments such as pipeclay and roasted 

 gypsum are in frequent use ; the last mentioned, as a rule, only 

 for particular markings and designs, the symmetrical curves and 

 lines of whioli give them at times quite a picturesque appearance. 

 (See pi. 20, 22-27.) Charcoal is also sometimes smeared over 

 the face, and one individual I met had rubbed himself all over 

 ^vith a greyish clay tliat gave liini ijuite a light appearance. The 

 liair of the men generally receives a considerable amount of 

 attention. After a good meal T have seen them loosen it out and 

 work the fingers through it like a comb for some time, and then 

 with care and deliljeration fasten it up again. Nearly all tie the 

 hair back from the forehead at times by winding a twisted string 

 made of either human or opossum hair several times very tightly 

 round the head. Some also bend tlie hair under at the l3ack and 

 form it into a chignon-like knob (pi. 21) by winding the string 

 crossways back and forward. This gives them a strikingly pecu- 

 liar appearance, and as the hair is very tightly pulled back, so 

 that the string almost cuts into the skin at the forehead, this 

 head-dress must be ratlier uncomfortable: but it seems the blacks 

 have got used to it, or probably endure it to show their fortitude. 

 I'ui-ing the day's march tjiis chignon serves as tiie receptacle for 

 small things that may be found on the road. Often a handful of 

 scented grass is tui-ned in with the hair, and some T have ob- 

 served to put an ornamented stick crossways through it. At 



