Joseph Banks - Endeavour Journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0402
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[Page 402]
Manners & Customs of S. Sea Islands
When we came they had them of their own, made of Shell, stone, berries, red pease, & some small pearls which they wore 3 tied together; but our beads very quickly supplyd their place; they also are very fond of flowers, especialy of the Cape Jasmine of which they have great plenty planted for near their houses; these they stick into the holes of their ears, & into their hair, if they have enough of them which is but seldom. The men wear feathers often the tails of tropick birds stuck upright in their hair, they have also a kind of wiggs made upon one string of the hair of men, dogs, or Cocoa nut strings, which they tie under their hair upon the back of their heads, I have seen them also wear whimsical garlands made of a variety of flowers stuck into a peice of the rind of plaintain, or of scarlet pease stuck upon a peice of wood with gum, but these are not common. but Their great pride of Dress seems to be centerd almost in what they call Tamou which is human hair platted, scarce thicker than common thread, of this I may easily affirm that I have peices above a mile in lenght workd upon an end without a single Knot, & I have seen 5 or 6 of such peices wound round the head of one woman the effect of which if done with taste was most becoming.
[In left margin]
Jany 21.1772 measurd one 6144 feet, another 7294 feet.