VAEIOUS MODES OF PAINTING. 215 



far, as had also been the case lower down, so caused 

 us no inconvenience. 



Among' our numerous visitors we occasionally 

 saw a woman or two, but none were favourable speci- 

 mens of their kind. Unlike the men, whose only 

 covering was the breech-cloth formerly described, 

 the women wore a short petticoat of grass-like stuff, 

 probably the pandanus leaf divided into fine shreds, 

 — worked into a narrow band which ties round the 

 waist. They usually, when alongside the ship, held 

 a small piece of matting over the head with one 

 hand, either to protect them fi-om the sun or par- 

 tially to secure themselves from observation, as in 

 their manners they were much more reserved than 

 the men. 



At Coral Haven we have already seen consider- 

 able variety displayed in the various styles of 

 painting the body. Pounded charcoal mixed up 

 with cocoa-nut oil, and lime obtained from burnt 

 shells similarly treated, are the pig'ments made use 

 of. The most common fashion of painting is with 

 a broad streak down the forehead, and a circle 

 round each eye. Occasionally the entire body is 

 blackened, but often the face only— with daubs of 

 paint on the temples, cheek, and round the mouth 

 and one or both eyes, rendering a forbidding coun- 

 tenance inexpressibly hideous in our sight. 



The ornaments worn by these savages are very 

 numerous, besides which they are fond of decorating- 

 the person ^vith flowers and strong-scented plants. 



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