210 
COIFFURE OF WOMEN. 
[chap. y. 
the expiration of which time, the body being suffi¬ 
ciently decomposed, is exhumed. The bones are 
cleaned, and are deposited in an earthenware jar, 
and carried to a spot near the town which is 
regarded as the cemetery. I observed that they were 
not particular in regarding the spot as sacred, as 
signs of nuisances were present even upon the bones, 
that in civilized countries would have been regarded 
as an insult. 
There is little difficulty in describing the toilette of 
the natives—that of the men being simplified by the 
sole covering of the head* the body being entirely nude. 
It is curious to observe among these wild savages the 
consummate vanity displayed in their head-dresses. 
Every tribe has a distinct and unchanging fashion 
for dressing the hair; and so elaborate is the coiffure 
that hair-dressing is reduced to a science. European 
ladies would be startled at the fact, that to perfect the 
coiffure of a man requires a period of from eight to 
ten years ! However tedious the operation, the result 
is extraordinary. The Latookas wear most exquisite 
helmets, all of which are formed of their own hair; 
and are, of course, fixtures.. At first sight it appears 
incredible, but a minute examination shows the won¬ 
derful perseverance. of years in producing what must 
be highly inconvenient. The thick, crisp wool is 
