Description
A solo Hawaiian dancer pictured in this image is seen holding an
uli’uli, a feather-covered gourd rattle. On his calves are leggings made
of loose-hanging dog’s teeth. Called kupe’e niho ‘ilio, they weighed up
to ten pounds and included as many as 1,356 teeth, adding rhythmic
accompaniment to the dancer’s leg movements. The tattoos on the dancer’s
arms and legs are an example of the elaborate decoration in Hawaii.
From Bankes, A new and authentic system of universal geography, ancients and modern including all the late and important discoveries.
