viest hair; and the same thing is
seen among the women. It is indeed considered as an affront to cut
the hair for any crime. The Zambals alone shave the head from the
middle forward; and from the middle back, as far as the occiput, they
wear a large shock of loose hair. Ribbons are never used to tie it,
but with the hair itself men, women, and children make a knot near
the crown of the head or the occiput, as do the Turks.

426. The eyes of all are very beautiful and large, either gray or
black. The face is broad. The teeth are even and fine; formerly they
covered them with ink or a varnish of a black color. Now that is no
longer used except among the Tagabalooyes of Caraga, of whom I have
written; their beauty, lightness of complexion, and the features of
their faces might deceive one, and they would be taken for Spaniards if
they kept their mouths shut, and one did not see the black teeth. They
also, especially the chief women, adorned the teeth with gold,
with exquisite beauty. I do not know whether they waste the gold so
now. All of the men are beardless in the face, but their bodies are
sufficiently shaggy, as are those of all Asiatics. It is attributed
to the temperature of the torrid zone in which we are. Who cares to
study this more in detail would better read Fray Gregorio Garcia, the
Dominican. [347] In olden times the Indians removed and pulled out,
as if it were a defect, any little hair that appeared on the face,
with pincers of bamboo made for that very purpose. I have not read
that they did this because they considered it a reproach to have a
beard, as did those of Peru--who did the same, as I have read in the
above-cited author.

427. The women (and in many parts the men, especially the
mountaineers), have certain large holes in their ears, in which they
place pendants and earrings of gold. They make the greater display
of it according to the greater size and openness of the holes. Some
women have two holes in each ear, for two kinds of earrings. This is
usual among the Zimarrones and blacks, for the civilized people have
now adopted the custom of the Castilians in this regard.

428. In olden times the men wore their heads covered or wrapped about
with a narrow strip of cotton or linen. Those who esteemed themselves
as valiant men wore the two ends hanging to the shoulders. This they
called the potong; and some wore this of colored cloth, to declare
their chieftainship. No one could wear a red one unl