DRESSES 
158 
in producing this article. They are seldom worn, 
but by persons of some consideration. The j)atai 
is a small unornamented garment, worn round 
the waist, and reaching down to the knees : this 
is generally worn by females. The korowai and 
tafata are two garments nearly alike in texture : 
they both have a number of loose strings hang- 
ing outside, which gives them a neat and com- 
fortable appearance. The iigeri is the garment 
worn outside in rainy weather, and used also, 
when the ground is damp, as a mattrass, for 
which it is no bad substitute. This garment is 
made upon the principle of thatching ; and is 
perfectly impervious to rain, however heavy. A 
native dressed in this, when he is seated, bears 
no bad resemblance to a bee-hive, particularly 
when he perches himself upon a heap of stones, 
and folds his knees up to his chin. To notice, or 
even to name, all the varieties of clothing, would 
be tedious and useless ; and as they differ so very 
little as to be scarcely perceptible, we will pass 
them over ; only observing, that male and female, 
master and slave, when they can afford it, are 
dressed much alike. Blankets have nearly super- 
seded the use of native clothing ; and the intro- 
duction of them has been a general benefit to the 
country. The importation of other European 
articles of dress has much increased the wants of 
these people ; and now, almost the only articles 
of trade which they require from us, for labour, 
or as payments for food, are, shirts, trowsers, 
