210 
DRESS. 
closely, they forcibly remind us of the truth of the 
expression of the poet, that “ nature unadorned is 
adorned the most.” 
The body dress is simple ; consisting of the skins 
of the opossum, the kangaroo, or the wallabie, when 
they can be procured. A single garment only is 
used, made in the form of an oblong cloak, or cover- 
let; by the skins being stretched out and dried in the 
sun, and then sewn together with the sinews of the 
emu, &c. The size of the cloak varies according to 
the industry of the maker, or the season of the year. 
The largest sized ones are about six feet square, but 
the natives frequently content themselves with one 
not half this size, and in many cases are without it 
altogether. The cloak is worn with the fur side 
outwards, and is thrown over the back and left 
shoulder, and pinned on in front with a little wooden 
peg ; the open part is opposite the right side, so as 
to leave the right arm and shoulder quite uncon- 
fined, in the male ; the female throws it over the 
back and left shoulder, and brings it round under 
the right arm-pit, and when tied in front by a string- 
passing round the cloak and the back, a pouch is 
formed behind, in which the child is always carried.* 
In either if the skin be a handsome one, the dress 
is very pretty and becoming. 
On the sea coast, where the country is barren, 
* A similar custom prevails among the women of the 
American Indians. — C af l>n. vol. ii. r>. 139. 
