176 FEJEE GROUP. 



that to be tattooed is a passport to the world of spirits, so much 

 so, that if a girl dies before the operation is performed, they 

 paint a semblance of it, by which means they expect to deceive 

 the gods. 



It is the custom for grown persons of both sexes to powder 

 their hair with the soot collected from the smoke of the wood 

 called " tooi-tooi," or else with lime. In using either of these 

 substances they diffuse it plentifully in a large calabash of 

 water, in which they dip their heads frequently. When they 

 have got on a sufficient quantity, they place themselves before 

 a mirror, and with a sort of comb and a stick about twelve 

 inches long, and pointed at both ends, they work the hair 

 up, until it has acquired the size and appearance of an im- 

 mense peruke. The natural color of their hair is black, but 

 by the use of lime and carbon and other coloring matter, they 

 make all the various shades between black and red ; many of 

 which colors, in numerous instances, decorate the same head. 

 Some are white in front, black behind, and red on the sides. 

 Those who have been deprived of their hair by nature or acci- 

 dent, supply the defect by wigs, which are so skillfully made as 

 scarcely to be distinguishable from the genuine natural growth. 



They eat with their fingers ; and in serving up their food, 

 they always sweep off the mats or lay down new ones, placing 

 the victuals upon fresh leaves. They take their principal 

 meal in the evening, over winch they spend much time. In 

 drinking, they throw their heads back, hold the vessel six or 

 eight inches from the lips, and allow the water to run into the 

 mouth, as if from a spout. The white residents speak highly 

 of the cooking, and say, they have seen at the feast given by 

 the chiefs from twenty to thirty different sorts of dishes. 



Their language is copious and pleasing to the ear. The 

 missionaries are endeavoring to reduce it to writing. It fur- 



