n 'y A 



jo4 



G. A. J. VAN DER SAXDE. 



varying between 67 and 115 (with the Negritoes SCHADENBERG [1880, 162] found from 

 50 — 100) join together, ail the hairs forming the same circles which succeed each other at 

 différent distances, so as to make tresses, which represent the natural growth, by 

 no means restricted to the Melanesian (PRUNER-BEV [1877, 80]). In daily life the tresses 

 generally are dishevelled, be it accidentally or on purpose; then artificial tufts resuit, 

 as in fig. 205, each formed out of one tress and still shovving at the base the original 

 spiral. The tuft in this figure I took out of such a mop as is depicted in fig. 206, which from 

 a superficial survey one would not présume to contain anything of the kind. The prettiest 

 tresses, on the contrary, I found with inland tribes, with whom the hair is little cared for, 

 specially with women of Lake Sentâni, but also in the cock's comb (see p. 57) of boys, who 

 are not yet allowed to dress their hair. The natural inclination to form joint tresses was 

 clearly proved (MEYER [1874, 104]) in instances when mop-headed men had to dive, when the 



hairs were disentangled and in drying formed their proper 

 tresses. The same is reported by GUPPY [18S5, 278] regarding 

 the Solomon Islanders. 



The length of the tresses, I mean the axis, according to 



Earl 1. c. may reach a foot; FlXSCH [1888, 157] mentions "Stràh- 



nen" of 18 inches, but I am convinced they can grow longer. 



The n u m b e r of the tresses could hâve been counted 



with the women of Humboldt Bay (fig. 207). 



The diameter of the tresses by MûSELEY [1S77, 385] 

 is supposed to be constant in each race and characteristic. 

 MACLAY [1873a, 232] found it to be smaller (3 — 5 m. m.) with 

 children than with adults (6 — 10 m. m.). The fact is that the 

 width dififers individually, possibly also increases proportionately 

 to the growth of the skull, but above ail sexually, the men 

 having a wider spiral, up to 10 m. m. (fig. 208, to the left), 

 than the women (see also VlRCHOYY [1889, 160]). Thus the 

 narrowest tress, 2.5 m. m. (fig. 208, to the right), was found in 

 the case of Ima, a married woman above middle-age from 

 Ajàpo; Radoi a virgin of about 18 years, who was in lier 

 company, had tresses of 6 — 7 m. m. in diameter. The widest 

 tress observed with a woman is about equal to the narrowest 

 of the boys and men. With the Solomon Islanders, GUPPY 

 [1885, 278] found the diameter of the tresses to vary between 

 5 and 10 m. m., but lie mentions no différences of âge or sex. With 

 Negritoes MEYER [1893, 27b, PL X, figs. 7 — u] found a diameter of 4, with a young man of 3 m. m.. 

 In the tresses of the collection turning- points (fig. 208 at X) can be noticed, 

 as in the tendrils of certain climbing plants (e. g. Bryonia dioica, Cucur bitaceaé), 

 in which the spiral changes its direction. Sometimes the number of windings between two 

 consécutive turning-points is fairly large (6 — 8), often, and this is particularly the case with 

 moderately long tresses, after one spiral twist a turn takes place, and often two or more 

 follow one another immediately. — — But why does the spiral change its direction? 



Fig. 207. 

 Gii'l of Tobâdi, wearing clay tresses. 



