(The hollow dried shell of a fruit)

Years ago, I read a Tim Cahill book about his adventures traveling the deep dark jungles...

I can't recall if it was South America or Africa, but he talked about a culture where the menfolk wore only a gourd which covered their privates - such as the one seen below:

.
.
I was undressing after work one day, and thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being unencumbered by all the shoes, buckles, ties, stays, straps, laces, and etc. of the workaday world. Ahh, sweet relief!

Do the gourd-wearing menfolk of that tribe come back to the hut after a long day and sit down: "Damn, it feels good to get that gourd off! Sweet freedom!"

Or do they wear an undergourd beneath? Do they prance around, harassing their good lady wife with their near-nakedness?

During this meditation on gourd-wearing, I've made a discovery that will stand the etymological community on its head - this is the source of the phrase "You're out of your gourd", which of course means "You're naked!".