The most renowned Blackbeard would twist the beard into tails, tie the tails with ribbons and then turn the tails toward his ears. Johnson further states that when engaged in battle, Blackbeard wore "a sling over his Shoulders; with three brace of Pistols, hanging in Holsters like Bandoliers." Johnson was perhaps the first person to describe the practice Blackbeard had of putting lit matches (lengths of hemp cord dipped in lime and saltpeter) under his hat to give his face and eyes an unnaturally fierce glow.