Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/104

 author of The Missionary Enterprise. All hands used to like his preaching. He was truly one of God’s noblemen.

We found no churches or schoolhouses in the "Devils’" villages. They live altogether differently from the Christians. They dress in the old heathen style, wearing only the titi, that is, a girdle of leaves that gives them

A "DEVIL" MAN.

a most graceful appearance. The leaves are slit, and the dress has the appearance of a short striped petticoat. They wear their hair long, usually tied in a bunch on one side of the head, which gives them a wild look.

We witnessed some of their war dances. The "Devils’" dance was only indulged in by the young ladies. The audience would lie down on mats, and three or four of  the old women would beat time with small sticks on a  short log. The dancers kept excellent time to the music,