374 



FEEJEE GROUP. 



of the corkscrew form, which is called tombi. Their usual mode of 

 sitting is represented in the cut. 



MODE OF SITTING. 



After they are married, the locks are clipped off, and the hair is 

 kept short and frizzled like a thick wig. They frequently whiten it 

 with lime, and then they call it ulu-lase. 



Another preparation is applied to the hair, for the purpose of cleans- 

 ing it. This, as has already been spoken of, is prepared from the 

 ashes of the leaves of the bread-fruit tree. This is thick and viscid. 

 They dip their heads into it, and their mops imbibe a large quantity 

 of the liquid, so that on raising the head it courses down their cheeks, 

 when on throwing the head from side to side it forms zigzag lines, 

 each of which leaves its mark on the skin. These marks are con- 

 sidered very ornamental, and are called ndraou. 



Those who have not as much hair as they desire, have recourse to 

 wigs, which are made with such ingenuity as to baffle any attempt 

 at detection. 



The face undergoes its daily ornamental style of painting. The oil 

 of the maiketa, mixed with the soot or lampblack of the laudi-nut, 

 is used to blacken it, and when this can be relieved by a vermilion 

 nose, a few spots here and there of the same colour on the face, or a 

 broad band of it passing diagonally over the visage, they fancy them- 

 selves and are considered by their fellows beautiful, and will sit for 

 hours with a small six-penny looking-glass admiring themselves with 

 great delight. The turban, or sala, and the maro are the distinguish- 

 ing marks of chiefs. The former are of large size, with ample folds ; 

 the latter of a length conformable to the rank of the wearer. 



The sala is formed of light tapa, resembling taffeta, and is passed 

 from one to a dozen times around the head. The maro, or seavo, for 



