The history of mankind (1896) (14760682741)

Identifier: historyofmankind01ratz (find matches)

Title: The history of mankind

Year: 1896 (1890s)

Authors: Ratzel, Friedrich, 1844-1904 Butler, Arthur John, 1844-1910

Subjects: Ethnology Anthropology

Publisher: London, Macmillan and co., ltd. New York, The Macmillan co.

Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library

Digitizing Sponsor: Wellesley College Library

Text Appearing Before Image:

s with it a greatervariety of hairdressing. We find men inMelanesia very scantily clad, and there arenot lacking trustworthy reports of some whoare completely naked. The Adamic costumeof the men in the Banks Islands, however,standing in sharp contrast to their skill inweaving mats, places them very low in theestimation of their neighbours, though amongthese also, so far as they are Melanesians,limited clothing is the rule. Where clothingis more complete we are sure to find traces ofPolynesian and Malayaninfluence. The foundationof the Melanesian mansdress is a belt, eitherplatted or made of bark,passing from the hipsbetween the legs ; whilethe women wear One ortwo aprons of fibre fromgrass, palm, or pandanusleaves. These elementsrecur everywhere, and theidea of what is becomingand respectable in cloth-ing is essentially concen-trated upon them. Butthe notions of modestyare extremely various.The people of Massiliaon the Finsch coast weara broad bark girdle pass-ing twice round the body

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Wigs of human hair worn in battle, from Vanna Levu.Museum.) (Frankfort City Of a higher kind of dress, which may be calledthat of the Polynesian colonies,Fiji affords the best examples.Here the tapa material rendersa richer style of clothing possible.The wrapping which passes be-tween the thighs is of suchbreadth and length that it ex-tends to a couple of hundredfeet. The usual measure is of 12to 20t feet; it is wound severaltimes round the loins in such away that the ends hang down tothe knee in front, and lower behind. In West Melanesia, also, tapa is indeed

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1896

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