The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-04-05
Toilets OF Uncivilized Nations.

The following i from an able work
on the "Orgin of Civilization" 10y Sir
John Lubbock:
Savages are passionately fond of orna-
ments. In some of tho very lowest
races, indeed, the women are almost
undecoratsd, 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 rs
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 cheeriully 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, ana
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 a 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-
tensten saw the wife of n 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 amss. In Southeast Island, one
of the Louisiade Archipelago, MGiili-
vray even saw several bracelets made
each of q 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,
ana other such ncongruOus objects,
worn with much gravity and pride.
The Felatah ladies IN Central Africa
spend several hours a day over their
toilet. In fact, they begin over night
by carefully wrapping their fingers and
toes in henna leaves, 80 that by morn
ing they are d beautiful purple. The
teeth are stained alternately blue, vel
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 nec<s, arms, ankles, and in fact,
wherever nature has enabled them TO
do so, savages also cut holes in them
selves for the purpose. The Esqumaux,
from Mackenzie river westward, make
two openings in their cheeks, one on
each sue, WHICH IIlty gradually enlarge,
and in which they wore an ornament of
stone resembling in form large stud,
and which may therefore be called u
cheek stud. Throughout a great part
of Western America, and again in Africa,
we also find the custom of wearing Il
piece of wood through the central part
of the lower lip. a small hole is made
in the lip during infancy, and it is then
extended 10y degrees until it is some
times as much as two inches long. Some
races extend the lobe of the ear until it
reaches the shoulder; others file the
teeth in various manners. DR.. j. b.
Davis has a Dyak skull in which the six
front teeth have each been carefully
pierced with small hole, into which
pin with a spherical brass head had
been driven. In this way, the upper
lip being raised, the shining knob on
each tooth would be displayed. Some
of the African tribes also chip their
teeth in various manners, each commu-
nifty having fashion of its own.