SUMATRA. 
39 
born, whilfl the ikuU is yet cartilagenons, which increafes their natural 
tendency to that ihape- I could never trace the origin of the pradice, 
Or learn any other reafon for moulding the featiires co this uncouth ap- 
pearance, but that it was an improvement of beauty in their eftimation. 
Captain Cook takes notice of a fimihir operation at the ifland of Uiitea* 
They likewife puU out the ears of infants^ to make them ftand eredt 
from the head. Their eyes are uniformly dark and el ear, and among 
fomc, especially the fouthcrn women, bear a ftrong refemblance to the 
Chinefe, in that peculiarity of foi'mation fo generally obferved of thofe 
people. Their hair is ftrong, and of a fliining black ; the improve- 
ment of both which qualities, it probably owes, in great meafure, to the 
conftant and early ufe of coconut oil, with which they keep it moift. 
The men frequently cut their hair Hiort, not appearing to take any pride 
in it; the women encourage theirs to a confidcuil/lc length, and I have 
known many inftances of its reaching the ground. The men are beard- 
lefs, and have chins fo remarkably fmooth, that were it not for the Ma- 
lay prief!s difplaying a little tuft, we fbould be apt to conclude that na- 
ture had refufed them this token of tnanhood. It is the fame in refpeift 
to other parts of the body, with both fexes ; and this particular zt- 
tention to their pcrfons, they efteem a point of delicacy, and the contrary 
an unpardonable ncgledb- The boys, they approach to the age of 
puberty, rub their chins, upper lips, and thofe parts of the body that are 
fubjedt to fuperfluous hair, with chunam, (quick lime,) efpecially of 
fliells, Mn^h dcflroys the roots of the incipient beard. The few pil^ that 
afterwards appear, are plucReo uul duiu. ti««o ttm^» ^thh t-we'ezers, which 
they always carry about them for that purpofe. Were it not for the 
numerous and very refpedable authorities, from which we are alliired 
that the natives of America are naturally beardlcfs, I Ihoukl think that 
the common opinion on that fubjedt had been raflily adopted, and that 
their appearing thus at a mature age, was only the confcquence of an 
early pradice, fimilar to that obferved among the Sumatrans* Even 
now I muft confefs that it would remove fome fmall degree of doubt 
from 
