[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

LOLOWAY—MALO—THE BANKS ISLANDS 251

inland. The people I found here were similar to
those in the west, except that they had developed
certain arts to a greater degree of perfection, particu-
larly mat-braiding and tattooing. The braiding is
done by a method very similiar to that in vogue on
Pentecoste. The tattooing is mostly done by women
and on women; but the men, especially the high
castes, often have a beautifully designed sicca leaf
running from the chest towards one shoulder, which
probably has some religious significance. The
women often have their whole body, arms and legs,
covered with tattooing, as if with fine lace. The
operation is done bit by bit, some one part being
treated every few days. The colour used is the
rosin of a nut-tree precipitated on a cool stone and
mixed with the juice of a plant; the pattern is drawn
on the skin with a stick, and then traced with the
tattooing-needle. This consists of three orange
thorns, tied at right angles to a stick. The needles
are guided along the design with the left hand, while
the right keeps striking the handle softly with a light
stick, to drive the needles into the skin. This is
kept up until a distinct outline is produced; the
operation is not very painful. The skin is then
washed and rubbed with a certain juice, which evi-
dently acts as a disinfectant; at least I never saw
any inflammation consequent on tattooing. During
the next few days some of the dye works out and
falls off with the dry crust that forms on the wound,
leaving the tattooing a little paler. The patterns are
rather complicated, and at the present day there are