Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-04-04
Toilets of uncirilized Nations.

Inc following Is from an able work
on the "Origin of Civilization" by Sir
John Lubbock:
Savages are passionately fond of orna-
ments. In some of the very lowest
races, indeed, the women are almost
undecorated, but that is only because
the men keep all the ornaments them
selves. As general rule we may say
that Southerners ornament themselves,
Northerners their clothes. In fact, all
savage races who leave much of their
skin uncovered delight in painting
themselves in the most brilliant colors
they can obtain. Black, white, red and
yellow are the favorite, or rather, per-
haps, the commonest colors. Although
perfectly naked. the Australians of Bot
any Bay were by no means without
ornaments. They painted themselves
with red ochre, white clay, and char
coal; the red was laid on in broad
patches, the white generally in stripes,
or on the face in spots, often with a
circle round each eye; through the sep
tum of the nose they wore bone as
thick as mans finger and five or six
inches long. This was of course very
awkward, as it prevented them from
breathing freely through the nose, but
they submitted cheerfully to the incon-
venience for the sake of appearance.
They had also necklaces made of
shells neatly cut and strung together,
earrings, bracelets of small cord, and
strings of plated human hair, which
they wound round their waists. Some,
also, had gorgets of large shells hanging
from the neck across the breast. On
all these things they placed high
value. The savage also wears necklaces
and rings, bracelets and anklets, arm
lets and leglets-even, if may say so,
bodylets. Round their bodies, round
their necks, round their arms and legs,
their fingers, and even their toes, they
wear ornaments of all kinds. From
their number and weight, these must
sometimes be very inconvenient. Lich-
tenstein saw the wife of Beltuan chief
wearing no less than seventy-two brass
rings. Nor are they particular as to
the material, copper, brass or iron,
leather or ivory, stones, shells, glass,
bits OF wood, seeds or teeth-nothing
comes amiss. In Southeast Island, one
of the Louisiade Archipelago, M'Gilli-
vray even saw several bracelets made
each of lower human jaw, crossed by
a collar bone; and other travellers have
seen brass curtain rings, the brass plates
for keyholes, the lids OF sardine cases,
and other such incongruous objects,
worn with much gravity and pride.
The Felatah ladies in Central Africa
spend several hours day over their
toilet. In fact, they begin over night
by carefully wrapping their fingers and
toes in henna leaves, so that by morn
ing they are beautiful purple. The
teeth are stained alternately blue, yell
low and purple, one here and there be-
ing left of its natural color as a contrast.
About the eyes they are very particu-
lar. They pencil them with sulphuret
of anthony. The hair is colored care
fully with indigo. Studs and other Jew
elry are worn in great profusion. Not
content with hanging things round
| their necks, arms, ankles, and, in fact,
wherever nature has enabled them to
do SO, savages also CUT holes in them
selves for the purpose. The Esquimaux,
from Mackenzie river westward, make
two openings in their cheeks, one on
each side, which they gradually enlarge
and in which they wore an ornament OF
stone resembling in form large stud
and which may therefore be called 9
cheek stud. Throughout a great part
of Western America, and again in Africa
we also find the custom of wearing {
piece of wood through the central par
of the lower lip. A small hole is made
in the lip during infancy, and it is ther
extended by degrees until it is some
times as much as two inches long. Some
races extend the lobe of the ear until i
reaches the shoulder; others file the
teeth in various manners. DIR. J. B
Davis has Dyak skull in which the si1
front teeth have each been CAREFUL,
pierced with a small hole, into which
pin with a spherical brass head haC
been driven. In this way, the uppe
lip being raised, the shining knob OF
each tooth would be displayed. Som,
of the African tribes also chip thei
teeth in various manners, each commu
nifty having fashion of its own.
| Tho Auglo, m arioau FIurrv