Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-07-19
".sHBsRsC ORNAMENTS.

SaVages are passionately fond of orna-
mehts' In some of the very lowest races,
indeed, the women are almost undecorated,
Dut that Is only because the men keep all
the ornaments themselves. AS general
rule we may say that Southerners orna-
ment themselves; Northerners, their
clothes In fact, all savage races, who
leave much of their skin uncovered, de-
light in painting themselves in the most
brilliant colors they can obtain. Black,
w hite, Red and Yellow, are their favorite
or rather, perhaps, the conmonest colors.
Although perfectly naked, the Australians
OF Botany Bay were by no means without
ornaments. They painted themselves with
red ochre, white clay, and charcoal the
red was laid on in broad patches, the white
generally in stripes or on the face in spots,
often with circle round each eye through
the septum of the nose they wore a 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 inconven-
ience for the sake of appearance.
They had also neck laces made of shells,
neatly cut and strung together earrings,
bracelets of small cord, and strings of plat
ed human hair, which they wore round
their waists. Some also had gorgets OF
large shells banging from the neck across
breast. On all these things they placed a
high value. The savage also wears neck
laces and rings, bracelets and anklets, arm
lets and leglets; even If / may so, body
lets. 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 in
convenient Lichtensteiu saw the wife o
Beltuan chief wearing no less than ~
brass rings. Nor are they particular as to
The material copper, brass, or iron, leath-
er, or ivory, stones, shells, glass, bits of
wood, seeds, or teeth, nothing comes amiss.
In South East Island, one of the Louisiade
Archipelago, McGilivary even saw several
bracelets made each of lower human Jaw,
Gro ssed by collar bone, and other travel
ers have seen brass curtain rings, the brass
plates for keyholes, the lids of sardine
cases, and other such ncongruous objects,
worn with much gravity and pride.
The Felatah ladies in Central Africa
spend several hours in day over their
toilet. In fact, they begin over night by
carefully wrapping their fingers and toes
in henna leaves, so that by morning they
are beautiful purple. The teeth are
stained alternately blue, yellow, and pur-
pie, one here and there being left of its nat
ural color, as a contrast. About the eyes
they are very particular. They pencil
themselves with sulphuret of antimony.
The hair is colored carefully with indigo.
Studs and other jewelry are worn in great
profusion. Not content with hanging
things round their necks, arms and ankles,
and in fact wherever nature has enabled
them to do so, the sayages also cut holes
In themselves for the purpose. The Es-
auimaux, from Mackenzie river Westward,
mako two openings in their cheeks, one on
each side, which they gradually enlarge,
and In which they wear an ornament of
stone, resembling in form large stud, and
which may therefore be called a cheek stud.
Throughout great part of Western Ameri-
ca, and again in Africa, we also find the
custom of wearing piece of wood through
the central part of the lower lip. A small
hole is made in the lip during infancy, and
is then extended by degrees until II is
sometimes as much as two inches long.
Some races extend the lobe of the ear until
II reaches the shoulder; others file the
teeth in various manners. DR.. j. G. Davis
has Dyak skull in which six front teeth
have each been carefully pierced with