body painting, n.All

Body painting (n.) made ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the Caduveo human: they asked the Jesuits 'Why are you so stupid?' — because, unpainted, a man is no different from the beasts.

Body painting (n.) could ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠carry news: the morning after the first European warship sailed up the Paraguay in 1857, Mbaya men were covered in anchors, and one wore a painted officer's uniform, buttons, stripes and sword-belt included.