Page:Some Account of New Zealand.pdf/67

48 lips are naturally thin, and well formed, but so preposterous are their ideas of beauty, that they endeavour to render them as thick as possible by this operation.

The clothing of the natives of this part of New Zealand, and probably of the whole island, is, upon ordinary occasions, not more abundant than the season requires.

The common covering is a mat, composed of strong bladed grass, and so thickly woven, that it must prove an excellent defence against the heat of the sun, and would certainly keep out a long continued rain: it is in effect a complete thatch, and being of such a length, as to reach half way down the thigh; when they are seated, or squatted down, their figure very much resembles a large bee-hive, super-mounted with the head of a New Zealander.

It does not appear that they have ever thought of any artificial covering for the head, but the mode of dressing their hair, in all probability, is found to supersede the necessity.