THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
cylindrical bits of ivory, about three inches long, intro¬ 
duced at one hole, and brought out of the other; or bits 
of reed of the fame fize, filled with a yellow pigment. This 
feems to be a fine powder of turmeric , with which the wo¬ 
men rub themfelves all over, in the fame manner as our 
ladies ufe their dry rouge upon the cheeks. 
Nothing appears to give them greater pleafure than per- 
fonal cleanlinefs; to produce which, they frequently bathe 
in the ponds, which feem to ferve no other purpofe A 
Though the water in moft of them flinks intolerably, they 
prefer them to the fea; and they are fo fenfible that fait 
water hurts their fkin, that, when necefhty obliges them to 
bathe in the fea, they commonly have fome cocoa-nut fhells, 
filled with frefh water, poured over them, to wafh it off. 
They are immoderately fond of cocoa-nut oil for the fame 
reafon; a great quantity of which they not only pour upon 
their head and fhoulders, but rub the body all over, brifkly, 
with a fmaller quantity. And none but thofe who have 
feen this pradtice, can eafily conceive how the appearance 
of the fkin is improved by it.. This oil, however, is not to 
be procured by every one; and the inferior fort of people* 
doubtlefs, appear lefs fmooth for want of it. 
* So at die Caroline Blands. u IIs font accoutemes a fo baigner trois fois, le jour, le 
matin, a midi, et fur le loir.” Lettres Edifianies et Curleufes , Tom. xv. p. 314, 
CHAP, 
