422 Report on the Island of Chedooba. [No. 114. 



Infants are slightly, if at all clad, and there is no custom among these 

 people tending to produce any deformity of limbs, which from the 

 birth are allowed free developement, nor is any care taken to prevent 

 exposure to either sun or rain. Infants are seen in the houses of all the 

 villages crawling about alone, and as soon as old enough to get down 

 the, so called, stairs of the raised floors, they are to be found in groups 

 amusing themselves without any controul, and naked as when born. The 

 girls clothe when 5 or 6, the boys seldom submit to the restraint till 8 or 

 9 years old. This freedom enables them to exhibit in youth well made 

 persons, tends to much personal activity, and inures them to subsequent 

 exposure, without any fear of ill consequences. The government of their 

 children is mild and affectionate, and is repaid by duty and atten- 

 tion in after life, and there is little evidence to be derived from their 

 noise of crying, of the number of children who flourish in a Cheedooba 

 Village. 



Though well proportioned, and exhibiting a good share of muscle^ 

 especially on the lower limbs, they are a small people, and of moderate 

 stature, the tallest among them not attaining a height of 5 feet 10 inches ; 

 5 feet 4 or 5 inches may be the average ; the females less. 



Though with decided Tarter features, all search for any thing approach- 

 ing to what constitutes in our ideas, beauty, must be in vain, yet there is 

 an open expression of frankness and good humour, in the countenances of 

 many of both sexes, and very commonly so in age, which with us must 

 be allowed to pass in its stead, and among themselves constitutes that 

 envied distinction. But truth compels to the avowal that this is found 

 oftener with the males than females. The colour of the skin is not a 

 black but that of a mulattoe. 



Of ornament, when grown up, neither sex have any j but a practice 

 designed for such purpose in all other countries, is here transferred into 

 one of every day usefulness \ with both, the lobe of the ear is perforated, 

 and the large hole fully occupied with the ever accompanying cigar. 

 A roll of paper fills its place, when not present, in order that the capacity 

 of this natural cigar case may not be diminished by contraction ; where 

 it can be afforded, silver is used instead of paper, and sometimes the white 

 pith of a particular wood is used. When about to make a journey, the 

 dimensions of the cigar are greatly increased, and it is then as thick as 

 the fore-finger, and from a foot to 15 inches in length ; a party on the 

 road with both ears thus mounted, looks not a little singular. Neither 

 the practice of smoking, nor the method of carrying the cigar is confined 

 to the men, and from infancy both sexes are accustomed to the indulgence ; 



