MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 
the head, the centre of it being brought over so 
that it is supported by the forehead, while the taper- 
ing ends hang down over the shoulders. At other 
times it is carried round the neck. 
The chief costume of the women of the coast 
tribes is the extraordinary petticoat made of grass or 
of a wide-bladed weed, each leaf of which would 
be about 3 inches wide. The blades composing 
this garment fall down perpendicularly from a waist- 
band, to which layer after layer is attached, until 
the “Rami” has that fine spread which used to be 
attained by more civilised women by a contrivance 
which I believe was called a “‘dress-improver.” As 
we went inland and rose gradually higher and higher 
in the mountains, we observed that the ‘‘Rami” was 
growing shorter and shorter, until at length, just 
after we had passed Epa, it disappeared altogether ; 
and one may reasonably consider the absence or pre- 
sence of this garment as the great symbol of division 
between the coast natives and those of the highlands 
proper. 
Among the men, both highland and lowland, the 
great symbol of dandyism is the ‘‘Chimani,” or nose 
ornament. This is made from a section of a shell 
about % of an inch thick in the middle, and tapering 
most beautifully towards the ends. It is accurately 
made, perfectly round and polished, and a_ good 
example would be about a span long. A fine 
“Chimani” very often has two black rings painted 
round it, about 1 inch distant from the end. ‘These 
things are manufactured by the coast people, and 
they drift by exchange through the whole country. 
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