Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0188
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[Page 188]
184.
Some account of New Zealand
from Valentynes history of the East indies it was tied over his shoulders cross his breast again under his armpits, likwise across his breast, & round his loins of this dress we saw however but one more intance during our whole stay on the Coast tho it seems convenient as it leaves the arms quite at liberty while the body is coverd in general indeed when they chose to set their arms at liberty they at the same time freed all their other limbs by casting off their cloaths intirely
The Women contrary to the custom of the Sex in general seemd to affect dress rather less than the men their hair which they wore short was seldom tied & if it was it was behind their heads & never ornamented with feathers their cloaths were of the same stuff & in the same form as those of the men but in decently covering themselves they far exceeded them their lower garments were at all times bound fast round them & they never exposd to view any thing even in the neighbourhood of those parts which nature coceals [indecipherable] except when they gatherd lobsters & shell fish in which occupation they were frequently obligd to dive but then they never meant to be seen by men