46 ELLICE'S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 



The majority of these islanders go entirely naked, excepting a 

 covering for the head, consisting usually of the bleached pandanus- 

 leaf. Mr. Agate's sketch of one, represented in the wood-cut, will 

 give an idea of this head-dress. 



DROMMONDS ISLANDER. 



Although it has been said that the majority go naked, it must not 

 be understood that the rest are clothed, for they wear no more than 

 a sort of girdle, which, however, serves no purposes of decency, only 

 covering the abdomen, and lower part of the back. Some few had 

 over their shoulders a strip of matting, with a hole in the centre for 

 the head to pass through, in order to protect their bodies from the sun. 

 A few were tattooed very lightly, and in some it was scarcely distin- 

 guishable. Those that were so adorned had it from the breast to the 

 ankles, consisting of short oblique marks, an inch or two in length, 

 drawn parallel a quarter of an inch apart: there was a space both 

 before and behind, of three inches wide, from the neck down, that was 

 uncovered. No tattooing was seen on the face and arms. These 

 natives soon showed that they were familiar and had had frequent 

 intercourse with vessels, for on coming alongside, their first cry was 

 for " rope." They had also a few Polynesian words of the different 

 islands and groups that could be recognised, which they had obtained 

 from the vessels that at various times had visited their island. 



Their own language was totally different, and none on board could 

 comprehend it. 



