Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0465
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[Page 465]
361
Some account of Savu
theirs which tho small is generaly of the finest material they can procure
[Margin note] turban
Many we saw had them of silk handkercheifs which seemd to be much in fashion.
The distinction of the womens dress except only the head consists merely in the manner of wearing their cloths which are of the same materials & in the same quantity as the mens their waist cloths reach down below their knees & their body cloths are tied under their arms & over their breasts Keeping up the strictest decency. both sexes eradicate the Hair from under their armpits a custom in these hot climates almost essential to cleanliness. the men also pluck out their beards for which purpose the better sort carry always a pair of silver pincers hanging round their necks Some however wear a little hair on their upper lips but that they never suffer to grow long
[Margin note] ornaments
Ornaments they had many Some of the better sort wore gold chains round their necks but these were cheifly made of Platted wire of little value others had rings which by their appearance seemd to have been worn out some generations ago one had a silver headed Cane on the top of which was engraved V [with a superimosed OC] so that it had probably been a present from the East Indian Company. Besides these they wore beads the