TATTOOING 301 



and forming intricately wrought patterns all over 

 the abdominal region, and over the front of the 

 legs from the groin to within an inch or two of 

 the knee. The back is similarly if less lavishly 

 ornamented as far down as the buttocks. The 

 men also affect the same custom, but usually the 

 cuts forming the pattern selected are larger, even 

 as the detail is less intricate, and greater attention 

 is paid to the face than is the case among the 

 females. It is said that at times great suffering is 

 caused by the setting up of septic inflammation. 

 Among some of the Makua of the northern 

 portion of the Province of Mozambique, the 

 frightful deep scars which they produce in the 

 forehead, cheeks, and chin are so truly awful as 

 to give them an appearance of the utmost re- 

 pulsiveness. As I have just stated, the carriage 

 of the women is extremely graceful and dignified, 

 and, owing to the hard nature of the toil to 

 which they are daily subjected from an early age, 

 they possess very fine muscular development. 

 Their hands and feet are small and shapely, and 

 their voices not unmusical. 



After the birth of children, however, youth 

 appears quickly to fade, so that at quite an early 

 period of life a woman of Zambezia looks quite 

 passee ; the breasts lose their elasticity, and hang 

 down almost to the navel ; she becomes stout, and 

 at eighteen or nineteen has often the jaded appear- 

 ance of a woman of thirty.* 



Both eyesight and hearing are exceedingly good. 



* At thirty most native women appear to be very much older than 

 they really are. 



