Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/90

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Twenty Years Before the Mast.

forms! they are either round-shouldered, knock-kneed, bow-legged, or parrot-toed; some are also badly cross-eyed. It seems as if they can see two different ways at the same time. In fact, Jack says they are lop-sided and out of kilter altogether. Those who wore any headgear had on high, flaring chip bonnets of their own make, which looked like baskets, minus bottoms and a

TAHITIAN GIRL.

portion of the rims, and tied on their heads edgewise. Their frocks were made of silk and of other kinds of cloth, the same width around the neck as around the bottom, drawn in around the neck with a showy handkerchief. The hat worn by ladies is something like a wreath of flowers, made from the pandanus, or cape jessamine. A rose is often stuck through the lobe of the ear, and is a pleasing contrast to their glossy, black