Page 514
An.1690
Jeoly, the Painted Prince.
Madochala, that is, abundance; but to make it ap- pcar more plain, he would also shew me the hair of his Head, a thing frequent among all the Indians that I have met with, to shew their Hair, when they would express more than they can number. He told me also, that his Father was Raja of the Island where they lived: that there were not a- bove 30 men on the Island, and about one hun- dred Women: that he himself had five Wives and eight Children, and that one of his Wives painted him.
He was painted all down his Breast, between his Shoulders behind; on his Thighs (mostly) be- fore; and in the form of several broad Rings, or Bracelets, round his Arms and Legs. I cannot liken the Drawings to any Figure of Animals, or the like; but they were very curious, full of great variety of Lines, Flourishes, Chequered Work, &c. keeping a very graceful proportion, and appearing very artificial, even to a wonder, especially that upon and between his Shoulder-blades. By the account he gave me of the manner of doing it, I understood that the Painting was done in the same manner, as the Jerusalem Cross is made in Mens Arms, by pricking the skin, and rubbing in a pig- ment. But whereas Powder is used in ma- king the Jerusalem-Cross, they at Meangis use the gum of a Tree beaten to powder, called by En- glish Drammer, which is used instead of Pitch in many parts of India. He told me, that most of the Men and Women on the Island were thus painted: and also that they had all Ear-rings made of Gold, and Gold Shackles about their Legs and Arms: that their common Food, of the produce of the Land, was Potatoes and Yames: that they had plenty of Cocks and Hens; but no other tame Fowl. He said that Fish (of which he was a great Lover, as wild Indians generally are) was very plentiful about