The history of mankind (1896) (14577123730)

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



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tly imitated. OnFakaafo in the TokelauIslands, Hale saw boat-men wearing eye-shadesof closely-plaited materialbound on to their foreheads,just as weak-sighted peoplewear them with us. As with tattooing, sofeather ornaments extendback from the domain of secular fashion to that of religion. Birds are amongthe sacred animals, and this is especially the case with that bird which in its redtail-feathers affords the article most sought for ornamental purposes among thePolynesians, the Tropic-bird (Phaethon). At one time no article of commerce wasin such demand in the Society Islands. The feathers were stuck on to banana-leaves, which were bound on the forehead ; and even on the coco-nut fibre apronsof the dancing-girls. The most valuable head-dresses were made of feathers.Other objects of wide distribution were the supple necklaces of twisted string,in which coloured feathers were twined. In the Marquesas and on EasterIsland fcathcr-diadems were also worn. But it was in Hawaii that feather-
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A man of Ponape in the Carolines. (From a photograph in the GodeffroyAlbum.) THE POLYNESIANS AND MICRONESIANS 199 ornament reached its greatest development and its highest value. The feathersof Melithreptes Pacifica were luxuries which forty years ago were permitted onlyto the most distinguished people. Helmet-shaped head-dresses were decoratedwith yellow feathers, quite reminding one in their shape and colour of the head-gear worn by Buddhist priests. Trifles of the most various kind find employment for decorative purposes. Inits shells of man) colours the sea provides copious material. Flowers and tendrilsare worn in tasteful style round the neck, in the hair, in the ears, even in thenose. Knotted strings oi piindanusA&aS. or coco-nut fibre serve not only for purposesof divination, but, as on Ule, for the reckoning of time ; and many chiefs wearthem for that purpose round their necks. Or are we to see in this a kind ofrecord of memoranda (Dili) such as the chiefscarry in Pelew ?