and young children.  As to the women, it was nearly always observed that when in camp without clothing they, especially the younger ones, exhibited by their attitude a keen sense of modesty, if, indeed, a consciousness of their nakedness can be thus considered.  When we desired to take a photograph of a group of young women, they were very coy at the proposal to remove their scanty garments, and retired behind a wall to do so; but once in a state of nudity they made no objection to exposure to the camera.” (Report of the Horn Scientific Expedition, 1896, vol. iv, p. 37.)

In Northern Queensland “phallocrypts,” or “penis-concealers,” only used by the males at corrobborees and other public rejoicings, are either formed of pearl-shell or opossum-string.  The koom-pa-ra, or opossum-string form of phallocrypt, forms a kind of tassel, and is colored red; it is hung from the waist-belt in the middle line.  In both sexes the privates are only covered on special public occasions, or when in close proximity to white settlements. (W.  Roth, Ethnological Studies among the Northwest-Central-Queensland Aborigines, 1897, pp. 114-115.)

“The principle of chastity,” said Forster, of his experiences in the South Sea Islands in their unspoilt state, “we found in many families exceedingly well understood.  I have seen many fine women who, with a modesty mixed with politeness, refuse the greatest and most tempting offers made them by our forward youths; often they excuse themselves with a simple tirra-tano, ’I am married,’ and at other times they smiled and declined it with epia, ‘no.’ ...  Virtuous women hear a joke without emotion, which, amongst us, might put some men to the blush.  Neither austerity and anger, nor joy and ecstasy is the consequence, but sometimes a modest, dignified, serene smile spreads itself over their face, and seems gently to rebuke the uncouth jester.” (J.R.  Forster, Observations made During a Voyage Round the World, 1728, p. 392.)

Captain Cook, at Tahiti, in 1769, after performing Divine service on Sunday, witnessed “Vespers of a very different kind.  A young man, near six feet high, performed the rites of Venus with a little girl about eleven or twelve years of age, before several of our people and a great number of the natives, without the least sense of its being indecent or improper, but, as it appeared, in perfect conformity to the custom of the place.  Among the spectators were several women of superior rank, who may properly be said to have assisted at the ceremony; for they gave instructions to the girl how to perform her part, which, young as she was, she did not seem much to stand in need of.” (J.  Hawkesworth, Account of the Voyages, etc., 1775, vol. i, p. 469.)

At Tahiti, according to Cook, it was customary to “gratify every appetite and passion before witnesses,” and it is added, “in