Body Decoration

Garments, such as the fine mat, the various forms of kilts and bark cloth material worn as a skirt and a belt, have all been described. It is again stressed that these articles were not used as ordinary clothing, of which there was little need, but chiefly as personal adornment to distinguish rank during festive and ceremonial occasions.

Human hair belt. The belt of human hair figured in Plate LIV, D, 3 in Bishop Museum is attributed to Samoa. It consists of 110 strands of three-page 631ply-braided hair doubled at each end and seized to make eye holes. The length is 39 inches.

Such belts were made in Niue and other parts, but were not mentioned to me by Samoans when discussing" clothing and ornamental accessories. The locality of the belt may quite possibly be an error.