They are not
only sensitive to European perfumes, but possessed various
perfumes of their own, derived from plants and possessing a
pleasant, powerful, and lasting odor; the choicest and rarest was
the gum of the _taramea_ (_Aciphylla Colensoi_), which was
gathered by virgins after the use of prayers and charms. Sir
Joseph Banks noted that Maori chiefs wore little bundles of
perfumes around their necks, and Cook made the same observation
concerning the young women. References to the four chief Maori
perfumes are contained in a stanza which is still often hummed to
express satisfaction, and sung by a mother to her child:--
"My little neck-satchel of sweet-scented moss,
My little neck-satchel of fragrant fern,
My little neck-satchel of odoriferous gum,
My sweet-smelling neck-locket of sharp-pointed _taramea_."
In the summer season the sleeping houses of Maori chiefs were
often strewed with a large, sweet-scented, flowering grass of
powerful odor. (W. Colenso, _Transactions of the New Zealand
Institute_, vol. xxiv, reprinted in _Nature_, November 10, 1892.)
Javanese women rub themselves with a mixture of chalk and strong
essence which, when rubbed off, leaves a distinct perfume on the
body.
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