ulf of California, wore a
petticoat of shredded bark, of plaited grass, or of strings, upon
which were strung hundreds of seeds. Even in the most tropical
areas the rule was universal, as anyone can see from the codices
or in pictures of the natives." (Otis T. Mason, _Woman's Share in
Primitive Culture_, p. 237.)
Describing the loin-cloth worn by Nicobarese men, Man says: "From
the clumsy mode in which this garment is worn by the Shom
Pen--necessitating frequent readjustment of the folds--one is led
to infer that its use is not _de rigueur_, but reserved for
special occasions, as when receiving or visiting strangers."
(E.H. Man, _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, 1886, p.
442.)
The semi-nude natives of the island of Nias in the Indian Ocean
are "modest by nature," paying no attention to their own nudity
or that of others, and much scandalized by any attempt to go
beyond the limits ordained by custom. When they pass near places
where women are bathing they raise their voices in order to warn
them of their presence, and even although any bold youth
addressed the women, and the latter replied, no attempt would be
made to approach them; any such attempt would be severely
punished by the head man of the village. (Modigliani, _Un Viaggio
a Nias_, p. 460.)
Man says that the Andamanese in modesty and self-respect compare
favorably with many classes among civilized peoples. "Women are
so modest that they will not renew their leaf-aprons in the
presence of one another, but retire to a secluded spot for this
purpose; even when parting with one of their _bod_ appendages
[tails of leaves suspended from back of girdle] to a female
friend, the delicacy they manifest for the feelings of the
bystanders in their mode of removing it amounts to prudishness;
yet they wear no clothing in the ordinary sense." (_Journal of
the Anthropological Institute_, 1883, pp. 94 and 331.)
Of the Garo women of Bengal Dalton says: "Their sole garment is a
piece of cloth less than a foot in width that just meets around
the loins, and in order that it may not restrain the limbs it is
only fastened where it meets under the hip at the upper corners.
The girls are thus greatly restricted in the positions they may
modestly assume, but decorum is, in their opinion, sufficiently
preserved if t
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