V.] THE OCEANIC NEGROES: PAPUASIANS. 135 



and present most curious architectural forms with their grotesque 

 top structures perched upon long piles 1 ." 



About the lower Fly River and the Gulf of Papua this observer 

 tells us that each village usually possesses one house over 500 feet 

 in length, usually divided by great passages running right through 

 the centre, with lateral subdivisions, "so that the interior section 

 resembles that of a stable with its numerous stalls. These sub- 

 divisions possess fire-places, which are used for cooking the 

 family food. The fire is usually kept burning day and night to 

 keep away mosquitoes and other obnoxious insects 2 ." Although 

 provided with end and several side doors, these buildings, which 

 stand on piles above the surface of the ground, are always dark 

 and cheerless, while the arboreal structures are at least bright and 

 breezy. " These aerial dwellings are constructed in the highest 

 trees about 100 feet above the ground, and approached by almost 

 perpendicular ladders constructed of long spliced saplings lashed 

 1 8 inches apart by cross-bars at every 15 inches. These houses, 

 supplemented by detached platforms, are stocked with food and 

 weapons of defence, and constantly occupied by their owners, 

 who are so intimidated by the raids of their slayers that they 

 leave their dwellings no longer than they can possibly help for the 

 purpose of procuring their necessary food 3 ." 



To Mr Romilly's book is prefixed an introduction on " New 

 Guinea Folklore" by Mr Andrew Lang, who 

 questions the author's statement that "the super- Id ^as lgl 

 stitions of the Papuans can hardly be said to 

 resemble any form of religion," adding that " we know from other 

 sources that Papuans in Melanesia have the general elements of 

 religion, like other people 4 ." This is a good illustration of the 

 necessity of restricting the use of the term Papuan to the 

 aborigines of New Guinea and neighbouring islands, and main- 

 taining the distinction between them and the true Melanesians of 



1 British New Guinea, 1892, p. 56. For the raison d'etre of these aquatic 

 stations see Etli. p. 120 i. 



- Ib. p. 121. Almost exactly similar dwellings occur in Geelvink Bay on 

 the north-west coast (Cruise of Marchesa, p. 279). 



3 Ib. p. 51. 



4 P. xvi. 



