State Library of NSW
[Page 384]
280. Some account of New Holland
the one hinderd them from contriving nor the other from making them of these the cheif & that on which they seem to set the greatest value is a bone about 5 or 6 inches in lengh & as thick as a mans finger which they thrust into a hole bord through that part which divides the nostrils so that it sticks across their face making in the eyes of Europeans a most ludicrous appearance tho no doubt they esteem even this as an addition to their beauty which their purchasd with hourly inconvenience for when the bone was in its place or as our seamen termd it their spritsail yard was riggd across it compleatly stop'd up both nostrils so that they spoke in the nose in a manner one should think scarce intelligible besides these extrordinary bones they had necklaces made of shells neatly enough cut & strung together bracelets also if one may call by that name 4 or 5 ring of small cord wore round the upper part of the arm also a belt or string tied round the waist about as thick as worsted yarn which last was frequently made of either human hair or that of the Beast calld by them Kangooroo besides these they paint themselves with the colours of red & white the red they commonly lay on in broad patches on their shoulders or breasts the
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