AND THEIR CUSTOMS. 28^ showing them that I wanted a front tooth it occasioned a general 1788 clamour, and I thought gave me some little merit in their opinion. 15 May. Their bodies, chiefly about the breasts and aims, are scarified, and sometimes the skin is raised for several inches from the flesh, appearing as if it was filled with wind, forming a round surface of Scarifying. more than a quarter of an inch diameter. They have scars likewise in different parts of the body, and frequently one on the instep ; nor does the head always escape, for one of them, putting aside the hair on the fore part of the head, showed a scar, and then, pointing to one on the foot and those on different parts of the body, gave us Scan. to understand that he was honored by these marks from head to foot.* The scars the men are fond of showing, but I did not think the women seemed to be fond of showing the mutilated flnger, and Timidity of sometimes found it rather difficult to know whether they had lost * ^**™®" the joint or not ; for though they had not the smallest idea that one part of the body required concealment more than the other, f they appeared timid, would not approach so readily as the men did, and sometimes they would not land from their canoes, but made signs 'for us to give what we offered them to the men. When the south branch of Broken Bay was first visited, we had Experience some difficulty in getting round the headland that separates the Bay."^ ^° two branches, having very heavy squalls of wind and rain, and when we attempted to land there was not sufficient water for the boat to approach the rocks, on which were standing an old man and a youth. They had seen us labour hard to get under the land, and after pointing out the deepest water for the boats, brought us
- Both sexes are ornamented with scars UDon the breast, arms, and back,
which are cut with broken pieces of the shell they use at the end of the throwing stick. By keepmg open these incisions, the flesh grows up between the sides of the wounds, and after a time, skinning over, forms a leurge wale or seam. I have seen instances where these scars have been cut to resemble the feet of animals ; and such boys as underwent the operation while they lived with us, appeared to be proud of the ornament, and to despise the pain which they must have endured. The operation is per- formed when they are young, and until they advance in years the scar looks large and full ; but on some of their old men I have been scarcely able to discern them." — lb., p. 552. t **In the women, that feminine delicacy which is to be found among the white people was to be traced even upon their sable cheeks ; and though entire strangers to the comforts and conveniences of clothing, yet they sought with a native modesty to conceal by attitude what the want of covering would otherwise have revealed. They have often brought to my recollection "the bending statue which encbiants the world,*' though it must be owned that the resemblance consisted solely in the position." — lb., p. 660. Digitized by Google
