. Women of all nations, a record of their characteristics, habits, manners, customs and influence; . ide piece folds round the body, almostmeeting behind, and a back piece coversthe join, reaching from the shoulder-bladesto the ground. A girdle of plaited Pandanusleaf secures the whole {see p. 84). The simplest form of costume, and onethat might have been worn by Eve herself,occurs sporadically throughout piece of fibre or liana is wound round the MELANESIA 91 waist and tied over one hip, and a bunch ofgrass tibre or leaves, etc., tucked in beforeand behind. Tliis type of costume w
. Women of all nations, a record of their characteristics, habits, manners, customs and influence; . ide piece folds round the body, almostmeeting behind, and a back piece coversthe join, reaching from the shoulder-bladesto the ground. A girdle of plaited Pandanusleaf secures the whole {see p. 84). The simplest form of costume, and onethat might have been worn by Eve herself,occurs sporadically throughout piece of fibre or liana is wound round the MELANESIA 91 waist and tied over one hip, and a bunch ofgrass tibre or leaves, etc., tucked in beforeand behind. Tliis type of costume which is well shownin the New Ireland group on p. 89, canbe donned at a moments notice, and awoman, paying a visit across an inlet oralong the shore, would leave lier own gar- sistible bribes, he prevailed upon a widowof the chief, Gorai, to part with one ofthese sacred garments, though the transac-tion was fraught with danger both forbuyer and seller. She was afraid to comeopenly, so she brought the bassa at night,and insisted on seeing it packed away in achest in her presence, with tlie promise. •^^?^ TAPA BEATING IN girls beat the moistened strips ot bark, on a hollow tree-trunk, with wooden mallets. rlwlcsyaph by J. If. Ifaters. ment at home, swim to her destination, andprovide herself with a new dress on landing. In the Admiralty Islands this is theordinary form of clothing, but decoration isintroduced by a brilliant red dye withwhich the tufts of grass are stained. In parts of the Solomon Islands a shortpetticoat of fibre is the fashion, varyingfrom a depth of only four inches in Ulauato a depth of a foot or more in the Shortland group a special sort ofsporran, called bassa, is worn, made withgreat care from specified plants, and boththe plants and the garment are tabu. Anethnological collector, who spent some timein the islands, was very to obtain aspecimen, but he found that the womenabsolutely rejected all attempts at last, b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidwomenofa, booksubjectwomen
