158 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [June, 



selves in a looking-glass is a great attraction. Having held a 

 watch to the ear of one at Port Monat, the next day every body of 

 the tribe came to listen to the ticking, with which they seemed as 

 delighted, as children. The day I arrived at Viper, they saw a kite 

 for the first time, and were excessively pleased at flying it, doubt- 

 less once having seen it, they will now manufacture them themselves. 

 Excellent as is their aim in throwing stones, some one last year 

 showed them how to connect two stones together by a piece 

 of string, and to throw them up, so that they catch in the branches 

 of a tree at a great height from the ground. 



Although clothes scarcely form part of their attire, they always 

 beg pieces of cloth, and it is curious to see how they mimic those 

 who consider garments a necessity. Their laziness is probably not 

 to be surpassed ; sooner than get a bamboo to knock down fruit, they 

 will cut clown the tree or its branches. They seem to thiuk the con- 

 victs are an inferior race, and should work for their benefit. 



In mentioning the clothing of these people, perhaps an incorrect 

 term is employed, for the males are essentially destitute of it. 

 Paint forms their clothing, its mode of application shows whether 

 it is put on for simple ornament, with the intention of joining in 

 the dance, to prevent sickness, drive away disease, or is a sign of 

 mourning. Sometimes, however, a few fibres are fantastically worn 

 around the forehead, neck, waist, or below the knee, in the form of 

 a garter, but all other clothing they consider immaterial. They be- 

 lieve themselves to be decent, and laugh at other people's ideas of 

 propriety ; still when landing at Ross, they used not to object, as 

 a favour to the residents, to wearing trousers for the occasion, and 

 these were kept ready for them at the landing-place, being return- 

 ed on their re-embarking in their canoes. 



The women, however, have some slight show of decency, for they 

 twist up fibres into the form of thin ropes, which they cover with 

 cloth and wear round their waists, whilst dependent behind, (also 

 sometimes in front) are about a dozen tails hanging halfway down 

 to 11 ie knees, anteriorly two or three leaves frosh gathered from the 

 jungle, completes their essential costume. As ornaments, they wear 

 a string of their ancestors' bones around their necks, or a skull is 

 slung in a basket over •their backs, or a belt on their shoulders, 



